Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 50 No. 5, 2019.
Original scientific paper
Epidemiological study of certain zoonoses in dogs and assesment of risk factors
Jelena Mraović
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Branko Jurić
; Veterinarska bolnica Poreč, Hrvatska
Miroslav Krznarić
; Veterinarska stanica Rijeka, Hrvatska
Zdravko Tus
; Veterinarska stanica Rijeka, Hrvatska
Matija Lončar
; Veterinarska stanica Rijeka, Hrvatska
Vanja Vrkić
; Hrvatska
Albert Marinculić
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Katja Krivičić
; Hrvatska
Marina Pavlak
orcid.org/0000-0003-0618-0199
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Abstract
Using epidemiological methods for the detection and control of zoonoses is an important factor in public health. Zoonoses that are not regularly controlled and for which there are no accurate data about their prevalence pose a threat to human health. These zoonoses include granulocytic analplazmoza, borreliosis, ehrlichiosis and heart dirofilariasis. Dirofilaria spp. can cause a wide range of diseases, the best known and most researched disease is cardiac dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria immitis or heartworm. The most important clinical manifestation of this disease in dogs is congestive heart failure (cor pulmonale) which can remain asymptomatic, both in dogs and in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis/Ehrlichia ewingii and Dirofilaria immitis in a healthy dog population in Istria County, and to evaluate the age, breed, keeping conditions (indoors or outdoors), and use (pets, watchdogs, hunting dogs or truffle dogs) of dogs as risk factors. Samples were taken from 134 healthy dogs in Istria County during 2015 and tested with the SNAP* 4Dx* Plus screening test. Of the 134 examined healthy dogs, Dirofilaria immitis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum were found in 16 (11.94%, CI 95% 6.45-17.43%) and 5 (3.73%, CI 95% 0.52- 6.94%) dogs, respectively. Of 29 examined dogs tested both by the SNAP* 4Dx* Plus and modified Knott test, dirofiralia was found in 15 (51.72%, 15 CI 95% 33.82-70.19%) dogs using the modified Knott test and in 6 (20.69%, CI 95% 6.18-35.72%) dogs using the SNAP* 4Dx* Plus test, indicating that D. immitis was also present in 40% of the modified Knott test positive dogs. With the aim of assessing age, breed, keeping conditions and use of dogs as risk factors, significant differences were found. The most infected breeds were Labrador retrievers and English setters. Infections were twice as common among dogs kept outdoors than dogs kept as indoor pets. The most significant differences were found between truffle dogs and hunting dogs (OR = 12.37, P = 0.0046). This preliminary study has shown the potential risk of exposure to Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Dirofilaria immitis in Istria County. Therefore, the role of the veterinarians in public health is of great importance, in terms of education and implementation of preventive measures to raise awareness among owners and hunters about the presence and control of these diseases both in dogs and humans.
Keywords
epidemiological study; zoonoses; dirofilariosis; prevalence; risk factors
Hrčak ID:
225783
URI
Publication date:
1.10.2019.
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