Canine Babesioses in Noninvestigated Areas of Serbia.
During the years 2012-2014, a total of 158 outdoor dogs from Pančevo and Đurđevo (northern Serbia) and Niš and Prokuplje (southern Serbia) were submitted to molecular analyses (PCR and sequencing) for canine babesioses. An overall prevalence of 21.5% was found, due to the species Babesia sp. 'spanish dog' (10.1%), B. gibsoni (5.7%), B. canis vogeli (1.9%), B. caballi (1.9%), and B. microti (1.9%). In addition, sequence analysis showed the presence of Hepatozoon canis in a dog from Niš. No significant difference between infected and noninfected dogs was found by age, sex, and place of residence, whereas there was difference regarding the presence of ticks (p<0.005) and application of preventive measures such as applying of antitick drugs/devices. Moreover, a significant difference was established by area: Dogs from Prokuplje showed infection rates (59.1%) higher than dogs from Pančevo (11.9%), Niš (4.5), and Đurđevo (where infected dogs were not found), and a different geographical distribution of the species was found. The presence of so many Babesia species and the first identification of H. canis will allow investigations on the pathogenic role played by each one and suggests entomological studies on the tick species that are more suitable vectors for each of them. Finally, the presence of so many infected dogs offers the opportunity of evaluating the hypothesis of a possible zoonotic role of babesial species affecting dogs.
1 Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome, Italy .
Simona
S
Gabrielli
2 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš , Serbia, Niš, Serbia .|3 Center of Microbiology and Parasitology, Public Health Institute Niš , Serbia, Niš, Serbia .
Suzana
S
Otašević
3 Center of Microbiology and Parasitology, Public Health Institute Niš , Serbia, Niš, Serbia .|4 Department of Medical Statistics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš , Serbia, Niš, Serbia .
Aleksandra
A
Ignjatović
5 Scientific Veterinary Institute Novi Sad , Serbia, Novi Sad, Serbia .
Sara
S
Savić
1 Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome, Italy .
Maurizio
M
Fraulo
6 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade , Belgrade, Serbia .
Valentina
V
Arsić-Arsenijević
2 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš , Serbia, Niš, Serbia .
Stefan
S
Momčilović
1 Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome, Italy .
Gabriella
G
Cancrini
D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004285:Dogs; D016783:Eucoccidiida / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D008297:Male; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology
Babesiosis; Dog; PCR; Serbia