Tick-Borne Pathogens, <i>Babesia</i> spp. and <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> s.l., in Sled and Companion Dogs from Central and North-Eastern Europe
Anna Bajer,
Maciej Kowalec,
Viktoriya A. Levytska,
Ewa Julia Mierzejewska,
Mustafa Alsarraf,
Vasyl Poliukhovych,
Anna Rodo,
Dagmara Wężyk,
Dorota Dwużnik-Szarek
Affiliations
Anna Bajer
Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
Maciej Kowalec
Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
Viktoriya A. Levytska
Department of Infection and Invasive Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Technology in Animal Husbandry, State Agrarian and Engineering University in Podilia, 32300 Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine
Ewa Julia Mierzejewska
Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
Mustafa Alsarraf
Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
Vasyl Poliukhovych
Department of Infection and Invasive Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Technology in Animal Husbandry, State Agrarian and Engineering University in Podilia, 32300 Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine
Anna Rodo
Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, 02-766 Warsaw, Poland
Dagmara Wężyk
Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
Dorota Dwużnik-Szarek
Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
Ticks are important vectors of numerous pathogens of medical and veterinary significance. The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of Babesia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in sled and pet dogs from Central and North-Eastern Europe. Neither Babesia spp. nor Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. infections were detected in sled dogs from seven countries (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Russia and Finland). The DNA of Babesia spp. was detected in 100% of symptomatic and 5.4% of asymptomatic pet dogs from Poland. Similarly, the DNA of Babesia spp. was identified in 82% of symptomatic and 3.8% of asymptomatic pet dogs from Ukraine. The DNA of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 4.4% of pet dogs. Molecular typing confirmed the presence of Babesia canis and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) in selected samples. Four dogs were co-infected by B. canis and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. Tick-borne pathogens constitute a serious health threat to pet dogs in Central and South-Eastern Europe, but were not observed among sled dogs from the same region of Europe nor in the Baltic countries.
