title: Canine tick-borne pathogens in Cyprus and a unique canine case of multiple co-infections.
abstract: Canine tick-borne pathogens such as Ehrlichia canis and Hepatozoon canis are widespread in the Mediterranean basin but have never been reported or investigated in Cyprus. We describe herein the presence of canine tick-borne pathogens in three dogs with clinical signs compatible with vector-borne diseases from Paphos area of Cyprus. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of E. canis, Anaplasma platys, H. canis, Babesia vogeli and Mycoplasma haemocanis in Cyprus. One dog co-infected with E. canis, H. canis, B. vogeli and M. haemocanis is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of this multiple co-infection in dogs. The tick-borne pathogens reported in the current study should be considered in the differential diagnoses in dogs exposed to ticks in Cyprus.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Laboratories, Langford Vets, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, UK; Cyvets Veterinary Center, Paphos, Cyprus. Electronic address: attipacy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Attipa
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Laboratories, Langford Vets, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, UK. Electronic address: caehicks@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chelsea A E
authors.initials: CAE
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Laboratories, Langford Vets, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, UK. Electronic address: emi.barker@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Emily N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Services of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus. Electronic address: vchristod@edu.med.uoc.gr.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.affiliation: Cyvets Veterinary Center, Paphos, Cyprus. Electronic address: neofytou.kyriaki@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kyriaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neofytou
authors.affiliation: Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: mmylonak@vet.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Mathios E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mylonakis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: vickysi@vet.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Victoria I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Siarkou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: evingopoulou@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Elpida I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Vingopoulou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Pathogen Biology, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK. Electronic address: fsoutter@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soutter
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology, Parasitology, Zoonoses and Geographical Medicine, Medical School, University of Crete, Greece. Electronic address: surreydimos@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Dimosthenis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chochlakis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology, Parasitology, Zoonoses and Geographical Medicine, Medical School, University of Crete, Greece. Electronic address: annapsa@med.uoc.gr.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Psaroulaki
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Laboratories, Langford Vets, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, UK. Electronic address: Kos.Papasouliotis@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papasouliotis
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Laboratories, Langford Vets, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, UK. Electronic address: s.tasker@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tasker
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000818:Animals; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D003044:Coccidia / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003535:Cyprus / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology
keywords: Anaplasma platys; Babesia vogeli; Canine tick-borne pathogens; Cyprus; Ehrlichia canis; Hepatozoon canis; Mycoplasma haemocanis