A survey of canine tick-borne diseases in India

P.A. Abd Rani; P.J. Irwin; G.T Coleman; M. Gatne; R.J. Traub

doi:10.1186/1756-3305-4-141

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A survey of canine tick-borne diseases in India

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

A survey of canine tick-borne diseases in India

P.A. Abd Rani, P.J. Irwin, G.T Coleman, M. Gatne and R.J. Traub

Parasites & Vectors, Vol.4(1)

2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-4-141

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Abstract

Background There are few published reports on canine Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Hepatozoon and haemotropic Mycoplasma infections in India and most describe clinical disease in individual dogs, diagnosed by morphological observation of the microorganisms in stained blood smears. This study investigated the occurrence and distribution of canine tick-borne disease (TBD) pathogens using a combination of conventional and molecular diagnostic techniques in four cities in India. Results On microscopy examination, only Hepatozoon gamonts were observed in twelve out of 525 (2.3%; 95% CI: 1.2, 4) blood smears. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a total of 261 from 525 dogs (49.7%; 95% CI: 45.4, 54.1) in this study were infected with one or more canine tick-borne pathogen. Hepatozoon canis (30%; 95% CI: 26.0, 34.0) was the most common TBD pathogen found infecting dogs in India followed by Ehrlichia canis (20.6%; 95% CI: 17.2, 24.3), Mycoplasma haemocanis (12.2%; 95% CI: 9.5, 15.3), Anaplasma platys (6.5%; 95% CI: 4.5, 8.9), Babesia vogeli (5.5%, 95% CI: 3.7, 7.8) and Babesia gibsoni (0.2%, 95% CI: 0.01, 1.06). Concurrent infection with more than one TBD pathogen occurred in 39% of cases. Potential tick vectors, Rhipicephalus (most commonly) and/or Haemaphysalis ticks were found on 278 (53%) of dogs examined. Conclusions At least 6 species of canine tick-borne pathogens are present in India. Hepatozoon canis was the most common pathogen and ticks belonging to the genus Rhipicephalus were encountered most frequently. Polymerase chain reaction was more sensitive in detecting circulating pathogens compared with peripheral blood smear examination. As co-infections with canine TBD pathogens were common, Indian veterinary practitioners should be cognisant that the discovery of one such pathogen raises the potential for multiple infections which may warrant different clinical management strategies.

Details

Title: A survey of canine tick-borne diseases in India
Authors/Creators: P.A. Abd Rani (Author/Creator)
P.J. Irwin (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
G.T Coleman (Author/Creator) - The University of Queensland
M. Gatne (Author/Creator) - Bombay Veterinary College
R.J. Traub (Author/Creator) - The University of Queensland
Publication Details: Parasites & Vectors, Vol.4(1)
Publisher: BioMed Central
Identifiers: 991005541849007891
Copyright: © 2011 Abd Rani et al
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.258 Zoonotic Diseases; 1.258.227 Tick-borne Pathogens
Web Of Science research areas: Parasitology; Tropical Medicine
ESI research areas: Microbiology