Infections with Anaplasma phagocytophilum in dogs in Germany.
The main objectives of this prospective study were to establish prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections in dogs from Northeast Germany; and to evaluate the hematological parameters of sero- or real-time PCR-positive clinically healthy dogs. The mean prevalence of A. phagocytophilum seropositivity of 522 dogs (258 suspected to have anaplasmosis, 264 healthy) was 43%. There was no difference between sick (46.9%) and healthy dogs (39.8%) (p=0.100). The PCR test was positive in 30 dogs (20 sick, 10 healthy); morulae were found in 12 of them. Twenty-six of 30 dogs tested PCR-positive between May and September (p<0.05). There was no difference with regard to abnormal CBC parameters between seropositive and seronegative clinically healthy dogs. The CBC was within reference range in 10 PCR-positive clinically healthy dogs suggesting a routine examination of blood donors for A. phagocytophilum in endemic areas to minimize the risk of transmission.
Kohn
B
B
Small Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: kohn@vetmed.fu-berlin.de.
Silaghi
C
C
Institute of Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, LM-University Munich, Leopoldstraße 5, D-80802 Munich, Germany.
Galke
D
D
Small Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Arndt
G
G
Department for Biometry and Information Processing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, D-14163 Berlin, Germany.
Pfister
K
K
Institute of Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, LM-University Munich, Leopoldstraße 5, D-80802 Munich, Germany.
D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001096:Arachnid Vectors; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D018884:Ixodes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D014195:Travel
D000977:Antiparasitic Agents