title: A serological survey of tick-borne pathogens in dogs in North America and the Caribbean as assessed by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, A. platys, Ehrlichia canis, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and Borrelia burgdorferi species-specific peptides.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tick-borne pathogens cause a spectrum of disease manifestations in both dogs and humans. Recognizing regional and temporal shifts in exposure are important as tick distributions change. To better delineate regional exposure to canine tick-borne pathogens, an expanded set of species-specific peptides were used to detect Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Aph), Anaplasma platys (Apl), Ehrlichia canis (Ec), Ehrlichia chaffeensis (Ech), Ehrlichia ewingii (Eew), and Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) antibodies in canine serum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Archived canine serum samples (n=6,582) collected during 2008-2010 and in 2012 from the US, Canada, and the Caribbean were retrospectively screened for antibodies against Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species-specific peptides. Overall, regional and temporal seroprevalence rates were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall Bb and Eew were the most seroprevalent pathogens. During 2008-2010, seroprevalence rates increased overall for Aph and Ech, and regionally, Bb and Aph seroprevalence rates increased in the South. Canada had unexpectedly high seroprevalence rates for Ec and Apl. The most common co-exposures were Eew+Ech, followed by Aph+Bb and Eew+Bb.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated significant shifts in canine vector-borne disease seroprevalence rates. The use of specific peptides facilitated improved geographic delineation of tick-borne pathogen distributions among dogs, which may enhance epidemiological surveillance of vector-borne pathogens shared by dogs and humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Qurollo
authors.affiliation: IDEXX Laboratories Inc, Westbrook, ME, USA.
authors.forename: Ramaswamy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chandrashekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Hegarty
authors.affiliation: IDEXX Laboratories Inc, Westbrook, ME, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Beall
authors.affiliation: IDEXX Laboratories Inc, Westbrook, ME, USA.
authors.forename: Brett A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Stillman
authors.affiliation: IDEXX Laboratories Inc, Westbrook, ME, USA.
authors.forename: Jiayou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: IDEXX Laboratories Inc, Westbrook, ME, USA.
authors.forename: Brendon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thatcher
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pultorak
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cerrito
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Edward B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Breitschwerdt
keywords: Anaplasma; Borrelia burgdorferi; Ehrlichia; Lyme disease; canine vector-borne disease; seroprevalence