Vector-borne and zoonotic diseases of dogs in North-west New South Wales and the Northern Territory, Australia

BMC Veterinary Research

Research Article

Debbie J. Marriot¹  Edward B. Breitschwerdt²  Nandhakumar Balakrishnan²  Amanda J. Shapiro³  Katrina L. Bosward³  Jacqueline M. Norris³  Graeme Brown³  Richard Malik⁴ 

[1] Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, St. Vincent’s Hospital, 2010, Sydney, NSW, Australia;Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA;University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Building B14, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia;University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Building B14, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia;School of Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, 2678, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia;Centre for Veterinary Education, University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia;

关键词: Dog;    Babesia;    Anaplasma;    Haemotropic mycoplasmas;    Coxiella burnetii;    Bartonella;    Brucella;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12917-017-1169-2

 received in 2016-06-22, accepted in 2017-08-09,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundVector-borne diseases of dogs in Australian Aboriginal communities are relatively unexplored. These dogs represent a unique group with variable ecto- and endo-parasitic burdens, nutritional stresses and a general lack of veterinary intervention. We investigated haemoprotozoal and bacterial pathogen prevalences in relation to erythrocyte and platelet numbers in dogs from North-West New South Wales (N-W NSW) and the Northern Territory (NT; Central Australia).MethodsReal-time PCR (qPCR) amplification of Anaplasma platys, Babesia vogeli, Mycoplasma haemocanis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum and Bartonella spp., serological screening for Coxiella burnetii, and Bartonella spp. and haematological analyses were performed on dogs from the two cohorts (96 dogs in total). Brucella suis serology was determined additionally for the N-W NSW cohort.ResultsAnaplasma platys (n = 26 dogs), Babesia vogeli (n = 7), Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (n = 10 dogs), and Mycoplasma haemocanis (n = 14) were detected in the sample population (n = 96) using qPCR. There were significant associations between (i) A. platys and anaemia (OR 8.7, CI 2.4–31.7; P < 0.001), thrombocytopenia (OR 12.1, CI 3.4–43.2; P < 0.001) and breed (OR 16.1, CI 2.1–121.5; P = 0.007), and (ii) between B. vogeli and anaemia (OR 11.8, CI 2.3–61.6; P = 0.003). Neither protozoal nor bacterial DNA loads, estimated using qPCR, were positively correlated with anaemia or thrombocytopenia. Haemotropic mycoplasmas were not associated with any haematologic abnormality. Four dogs from the NT were seropositive for Coxiella burnetii, while no dogs were seropositive for Brucella suis or to a panel of Bartonella spp. antigens. Despite directed efforts, Bartonella DNA was not detected in blood from any of the cohorts studied. A sample of dogs from the NT recruited specifically for Bartonella α-proteobacteria growth medium enrichment blood culture were also Bartonella PCR negative.ConclusionsVector-borne pathogens occur in dogs free ranging near Aboriginal communities, with higher detection rates in NT than N-W NSW. The preponderant haematologic abnormalities were anaemia and thrombocytopenia, likely attributable to A. platys and B. vogeli infections, but also probably affected by nutritional, parasitic, lactational and environmental stressors. The absence of Bartonella spp. is of importance to the Australian setting, and work needs to be extended to tropical coastal communities where fleas are present as well as ticks. Dogs living in and around Aboriginal communities may provide valuable sentinel information on disease infection status of human public health significance.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017