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Home » Archive » 2020 » Veterinary Session

Veterinary session

Studies on ticks and tick-borne infections of dogs in Jordan shelters
Far Dima - year 6
University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Department of Parasitology and Zoology
Supervisor: Dr. Róbert Farkas

Abstract:

Huge number of stray dogs are kept in Jordan shelters, but their health receives almost no attention. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the occurrence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in two shelter places. In July 2019 27 and 53 randomly selected, healthy dogs were sampled in Al Rahmeh and Aqaba cities, respectively. The essential data (e.g. breed, age, gender) of these dogs were recorded. The body surface of each animal was examined thoroughly for ticks. The DNA of blood dwelling protozoa and bacteria were examined in their blood samples with conventional PCR.

In Al Rahmeh shelter 14 (51.9% [95%CI:33.39-69.26]) dogs younger than 3 years old were infested with Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l.., more females (10/27) than males (4/27) (p-value = 0.1188). Three protozoa (2 Babesia and 1 Hepatozoon) and two bacteria (Bartonella and Anaplasma) pathogens were detected. Altogether 51 (63.8% [95%CI:52.81-73.43]) dogs were infected, in Al Rahmeh 18 out of 27, in Aqaba more than half of 53 animals (p-value = 0.8076). Hepatozoon canis was detected in most infected dogs (34/80, 41.3% [95%CI:31.11-52.20]). The DNA of Candidatus Bartonella merieuxii was found in the samples of 14 dogs (17.5% [95%CI:10.72-27.26]) in Aqaba shelter. Babesia negevi n. sp., Babesia vogeli or Anaplasma platys was detected in three different dogs of the other shelter. Co-infections caused by two pathogens was diagnosed in 9 out of 51 animals (17.6% [95%CI:9.57-30.25]). It is known that H. canis, A. platys and B. vogeli are transmitted by R. sanguineus which can infest dogs. The vectors of Candidatus Bartonella merieuxii and Babesia negevi n. sp. described in 2020 are unknown.

To the best of our knowledge except for H. canis the results of this study demonstrated the occurrence of the other 4 pathogens in Jordan for the first time. Further monitoring studies should be required to better understand the prevalence of these pathogens in shelter and other dogs and to identify their competent vectors.



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