Serological study of selected vector-borne diseases in shelter dogs in central Spain using point-of-care assays.
We evaluated the prevalence of selected vector-borne diseases in 131 dogs in an animal shelter in central Spain using point-of-care assays (SNAP 4DX and SNAP Leishmania; IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME). The SNAP 4DX detects Dirofilaria immitis (Di) antigen and antibodies against Ehrlichia canis (Ec), Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), and Anaplasma phagocytophylum (Aph); the SNAP Leishmania kit detects antibodies against Leishmania infantum (Li). Dogs were classified as healthy or sick based on physical examination, complete blood counts, and serum chemistry profiles. The prevalence of positive test results was as follows: Ec, 5.3% (n = 7); Aph, 19.0% (n = 25); Bb, 0%; Di, 0%; and Li, 5.3% (n = 7). Four dogs (3%) were coexposed to Ec and Aph, and three dogs (2.3%) were coexposed to Aph and Li. There was no statistically significant correlation between positive serology and clinical status (sick vs. healthy) or hematologic/biochemical abnormalities. The prevalence of Aph was the highest and is in agreement with a recent report in a dog shelter in northwestern Spain. These point-of-care assays may be more valuable as epidemiologic than as clinical tools.
Couto
C Guillermo
CG
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Veterinary Teaching Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. couto.1@osu.edu
Lorentzen
Leif
L
Beall
Melissa J
MJ
Shields
James
J
Bertolone
Nicolette
N
Couto
Jason I
JI
Couto
Kristen M
KM
Nash
Sarah
S
Slack
Jessica
J
Kvitko
Heather
H
Westendorf
Nicole
N
Marin
Liliana
L
Iazbik
M Christina
MC
Vicario
Francisco Clemente
FC
Sanz
Pilar
P
Ruano
Ricardo
R
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000502:physiology; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000502:physiology; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000502:physiology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan