dc.contributor.author
Schäfer, Ingo
dc.contributor.author
Helm, Christina Sabine
dc.contributor.author
Samson-Himmelstjerna, Georg von
dc.contributor.author
Krücken, Jürgen
dc.contributor.author
Kottmann, Tanja
dc.contributor.author
Holtdirk, Annette
dc.contributor.author
Kohn, Barbara
dc.contributor.author
Hendrickx, Guy
dc.contributor.author
Marsboom, Cedric
dc.contributor.author
Müller, Elisabeth
dc.date.accessioned
2023-12-06T07:53:13Z
dc.date.available
2023-12-06T07:53:13Z
dc.identifier.uri
https://refubium.fu-berlin.de/handle/fub188/41762
dc.identifier.uri
http://dx.doi.org/10.17169/refubium-41482
dc.description.abstract
Background
In Europe, canine babesiosis is most frequently caused by Babesia canis and Babesia vogeli, and occasionally by Babesia gibsoni.. In Germany, B. canis is recognized as endemic. The aims of this study were to assess how often Babesia spp. infections were diagnosed in a commercial laboratory in samples from dogs from Germany, and to evaluate potential risk factors for infection.
Methods
The database of the LABOKLIN laboratory was screened for Babesia spp.-positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for dogs for the period January 2007–December 2020. Sequencing was performed for positive tests from 2018 and 2019. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of sex, season, and year of testing. Questionnaires were sent to the submitting veterinarians to obtain information on travel abroad, tick infestation, and ectoparasite prophylaxis of the respective dogs. Fisher’s exact test was used to calculate statistical significance and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
In total, 659 out of 20,914 dogs (3.2%) tested positive for Babesia spp. by PCR. Of 172 sequenced samples, B. canis was identified in 156, B. vogeli in nine, B. gibsoni in five, and B. vulpes in two. Season had a statistically significant impact on test results when summer/winter (1.6% tested positive) was compared to spring/autumn (4.7%), with peaks in April (5.2%) and October (7.4%) [P < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 3.16]. Sex (male 3.5%, female 2.8%; P = 0.012, OR = 1.49) and age (< 7 years old 4.0%, ≥ 7 years old 2.3%; P < 0.001, OR = 1.76) of the tested dogs also had a statistically significant effect. A statistically significant impact was demonstrated for observed tick attachment (P < 0.001, OR = 7.62) and lack of ectoparasite prophylaxis (P = 0.001, OR = 3.03). The frequency of positive Babesia spp. tests did not significantly differ between the 659 dogs that had never left Germany and the 1506 dogs with known stays abroad (P = 0.088).
Conclusions
The possibility of canine infection with B. canis needs to be especially taken into consideration in spring and autumn in Germany as the activity of the tick Dermacentor reticulatus, a potential vector for canine babesiosis, is highest in these seasons. Travel and importation of dogs are considered major factors associated with canine babesiosis in Germany. However, autochthonous Babesia spp. infections also occur in a considerable number of dogs in Germany.
en
dc.format.extent
12 Seiten
dc.rights.uri
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject
Canine babesiosis
en
dc.subject
Dermacentor reticulatus
en
dc.subject
Vector-borne disease
en
dc.subject.ddc
600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::630 Landwirtschaft::630 Landwirtschaft und verwandte Bereiche
dc.title
Molecular detection of Babesia spp. in dogs in Germany (2007–2020) and identification of potential risk factors for infection
dc.type
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.articlenumber
396
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.doi
10.1186/s13071-023-06005-7
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.journaltitle
Parasites & Vectors
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.volume
16
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.url
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-06005-7
refubium.affiliation
Veterinärmedizin
refubium.affiliation.other
Institut für Parasitologie und Tropenveterinärmedizin
refubium.affiliation.other
Klinik für Kleine Haustiere
refubium.resourceType.isindependentpub
no
dcterms.accessRights.openaire
open access
dcterms.isPartOf.eissn
1756-3305
refubium.resourceType.provider
WoS-Alert