title: A molecular epidemiological survey of Babesia, Hepatozoon, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma infections of dogs in Japan.
abstract: Tick-borne diseases are often encountered in canine clinical practice. In the present study, a molecular epidemiological survey of dogs in Japan was conducted to understand the prevalence and geographical distribution of Babesia spp., Hepatozoon spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. Pathogen-derived DNA in blood samples obtained from 722 dogs with a history of exposure to ticks and/or fleas was examined by PCR. The prevalence of Babesia gibsoni, Babesia odocoilei-like species, Hepatozoon canis and Ehrlichia spp./Anaplasma spp. was 2.4% (16/722), 0.1% (1/722), 2.5% (18/722) and 1.5% (11/722), respectively. While B. gibsoni and Ehrlichia spp./Anaplasma spp. were detected in the western part of Japan, H. canis was detected in Tohoku area in addition to western and central parts of Japan.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
authors.forename: Shotaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Morihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tateno
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Endo
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004536:Ehrlichia; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S