Vector Surveillance and Pathogen Detection in the Working Areas of Military Working Dogs in Eastern Austria

Pathogens

Anja Joachim¹  Bernhard W. Sonnberger¹  Hans-Peter Fuehrer¹  Licha N. Wortha¹  Adelheid G. Obwaller²  Dietmar Rackl³ 

[1] Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria;Research and Development, Division of Science, Federal Ministry of Defense, 1090 Vienna, Austria;Veterinary Service, Joint Support Command, Federal Ministry of Defense, 1120 Vienna, Austria;

关键词: ticks;    mosquitoes;    surveillance;    Borrelia;    Bartonella;    Rickettsia;   

DOI  :  10.3390/pathogens11050506

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Vector-borne diseases play a major role in human and veterinary medicine worldwide. A previous study detected asymptomatic vector-borne pathogens in military working dogs stationed at a military base in eastern Austria, and a follow-up survey of potential arthropod vectors was conducted in spring 2019 and 2020 in the vicinity of the base to evaluate the presence of vectors and their carrier status for a range of canine and zoonotic pathogens. A total of 1324 ticks (nymphs and adults of Ixodes ricinus, comprising 92.9% of the collected specimens, and adults of Haemaphysalis inermis, a tick previously only rarely described in Austria, Haemaphysalis concinna, and Dermacentor reticulatus) were collected by flagging. In 44.1% (125/284) of all pools (n = 284), one infectious agent was found; in 27.8% (79/284) and in 1.1% (3/284), two and three different agents, respectively, could be identified. Overall, 72.9% of the pools contained at least one pathogen (Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., and Babesia microti). Borrelia mijamotoi, B. lustinaniae, and B. microti were previously only described in single cases in Austria. Mosquitoes were collected with BG-Sentinel traps monthly during the summer of 2019. A total of 71 individuals from 11 species were collected. No filarioid DNA was detected in the mosquito sample pools, although Dirofilaria repens had been present in the dogs from the military site. In conclusion, vector surveillance should be combined with the surveillance of an exposed population whenever possible to estimate the infection risks for dogs and their handlers.

【 授权许可】

Unknown