title: Seroprevalence of canine babesiosis in Hungary suggesting breed predisposition.
abstract: Six hundred fifty-one blood samples were collected from urban and rural dogs in various parts of Hungary to measure antibody levels to Babesia canis with indirect fluorescent antibody test. Thirty-seven (5.7%) of the sera showed positivity with titers between 1:80 and 1:10,240. Seroconverted dogs were found in 13 locations of the country. It is concluded that canine babesiosis is becoming more prevalent in Eastern Hungary. Seropositivity increased then declined with age, reaching a maximum in case of 3.1- to 5-year-old dogs. Prevalence of antibodies to B. canis was significantly higher among german shepherds and komondors. This suggests a genetic predisposition of german shepherd dogs to chronic babesiosis (carrier status) with long-term maintenance of their seropositivity. On the other hand, heavy-coated komondors are phenotypically more suitable for repeated exposure to ticks, potentially infected with B. canis. This is the first report on the seroprevalence of canine babesiosis in Hungary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Szent István University, István u. 2., Budapest 1078, Hungary. Hornok.Sandor@aotk.szie.hu
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hornok
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Edelhofer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farkas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001403:Babesia / Q000276:immunology*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan