title: Are vector-borne pathogen co-infections complicating the clinical presentation in dogs?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infection by two or more canine vector-borne disease (CVBD)-causing pathogens is common in subtropical and tropical regions where vectors are plentiful. Co-infections may potentiate disease pathogenesis, thereby altering clinical manifestations typically associated with singular infections. These factors complicate diagnosis, treatment and can adversely influence prognosis if the practitioner fails to suspect, document, and treat each concurrent infection. The spectrum of pathogens co-infecting dogs may change over time in a given practice location due to the rapid expansion of arthropods and their associated vectored agents, and international transit among pets and wild animals. This applies, for example, to Dirofilaria immitis and Leishmania infantum, the distributions of which have expanded from northern to southern Italy, and vice versa, respectively. Indeed, mixed infections by D. immitis and L. infantum have only been reported once in Italy, probably due to the fact that competent vectors for these infections do not usually occur in the same geographical areas. Thus, information that would help practitioners to identify clinical presentations in dogs co-infected by D. immitis and L. infantum and other CVBD-causing pathogens is scant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This manuscript describes the clinical history and physical examination of findings for 7 CVBD co-infected dogs that were examined because of a spectrum of clinical signs. Five dogs were co-infected with L. infantum and Ehrlichia canis, one dog with L. infantum, E. canis and D. immitis and the remaining dog with L. infantum and D. immitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical signs and haematological abnormalities associated with the diagnostic evaluation and treatment of these dogs is discussed. Also, the usefulness of bone marrow specimens for the molecular diagnosis of CVBDs and for the enhanced monitoring of treatment response is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Str. prov. per Casamassima km 3, Valenzano, Bari 70010, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Sara
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: De Tommasi
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Otranto
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dantas-Torres
authors.forename: Gioia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.forename: Edward B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Breitschwerdt
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Caprariis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology