title: Countrywide serological evaluation of canine prevalence for Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato), Dirofilaria immitis and Ehrlichia canis in Mexico.
abstract: Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD) have become a major concern for canine and human public health. The aim of the study described here is to add epidemiological data regarding four pathogens responsible for CVBD, namely anaplasmosis, borreliosis, dirofilariosis and ehrlichiosis in a national survey conducted in Mexico.
  
  
  
  Seventy-four veterinary centres located in 21 federal Mexican states were asked to test dogs with clinical signs suspect for CVBD and healthy dogs, for detection of Dirofilaria immitis antigen and antibodies against Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) and Ehrlichia canis using the SNAP® 4DX® from IDEXX® Laboratories.
  
  
  
  A total of 1706 dogs were tested, including 943 apparently healthy and 722 CVBD-suspect dogs. Infected dogs were 36.7 %. The highest percentages of infection with E. canis (51.0 %) and Anaplasma spp. (16.4 %) were obtained in the northwestern region, while D. immitis was most frequently found in the northeastern region of the country (8.9 %). Four dogs from the northwestern, northeastern, eastern and southeastern regions, respectively, were positive for B. burgdorferi (sensu lato). Northcentral regions showed lowest overall prevalence of infection (2.4 %). Co-infections were detected in 8.8 % of the dogs tested. Statistically significant lower positivity was found among dogs aged less than one year (23.2 %) and small-sized dogs (27.6 %), while higher prevalence of infection was found in dogs living outdoors (42.0 %), dogs with detectable tick infestation (43.3 %) and dogs that received treatment for tick-transmitted infections (58.8 %). Seropositivity was a risk factor for the presence of clinical signs as follows: Anaplasma spp. (OR = 2.63; 95 % CI: 1.88-3.67; P < 0.0001), D. immitis (OR = 2.52; 95 % CI: 1.61-3.95; P < 0.0001), E. canis (OR = 3.58; 95 % CI: 2.88-4.45; P < 0.0001), mixed infections (OR = 4.08; 95 % CI: 2.79-5.96; P < 0.0001), one or more agents (OR = 3.58; 95 % CI: 2.91-4.42; P < 0.0001).
  
  
  
  Canine serological evidence supports that dogs from Mexico are at risk of acquiring Anaplasma spp., D. immitis and/or E. canis, while B. burgdorferi (sensu lato) transmission is minimal in the country. Practitioners play a fundamental role in the detection and control of these diseases to protect dogs and humans.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Carrer de l'Hospital, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain. rebeca.movilla@uab.cat.
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Movilla
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuatitlán UNAM, Mexico Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Mexico City D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Bayer Animal Health GmbH, 40789 Monheim and Marketing Companion Animal Products (CAP), InternationalBuilding 6210, 2.56, 51368, Leverkusen, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siebert
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Carrer de l'Hospital, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Roura
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D060085:Coinfection / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth
keywords: Canine Vector-Borne Diseases; Dogs; Epidemiology; In-Clinic ELISA Tests