RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Canine babesiosis is a vector-borne disease transmitted by ticks of the Ixodidae family. The effects of infection in dogs can range from the subclinical to the severe lethal form. This study aimed to make an original contribution to the knowledge of circulating species of Babesia spp. in dogs in the region of Algiers as well as mechanisms and risk factors for their transmission. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An epidemiological study was carried out on 189 blood samples taken from dogs from April 2015 to January 2016. The samples taken underwent parasitological by Giemsa-stained blood smear and serological analyzes by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The ticks were looked on all the dogs taken. RESULTS: Giemsa-stained blood smears revealed the presence of two groups of parasites of the genus Babesia: Large Babesia (3/25, 12%) and small Babesia (22/25, 88%). The IFAT at a dilution of 1/32 showed an overall seroprevalence with Babesia canis of 17.98% (95% confidence interval 11.53-22.46). The distribution of the antibody titers for the positive samples showed that of the 34 positive sera with a titer ≥1/32, 28 sera remained positive at a dilution of 1/64 (14.81%), 22 at a dilution of 1/128 (11.64%) and 15 sera remained positive at a dilution of 1/256 (7.93%). Although seroprevalence varied according to canine population (20% and 19.49% in pet dogs and canine pound dogs, respectively, and 6.66-0% in farm dogs and hunting dogs, respectively), statistical analysis showed no significant differences between populations. The antibody titers obtained after several dilutions showed that 22 canine pound dog sera remained positive at a dilution of 1/128 compared to pet dogs and farm dogs which ceased to be positive at the dilution of 1/64. The comparison between the two diagnostic methods showed a strong agreement between the parasitological examination by blood smear and the serological method by IFAT. However, IFAT was much more sensitive. The analysis of risk factors, which may influence B. canis seroprevalence, has shown the influence of age, tick presence, and season. Finally, of the 242 ticks collected from a total of 59 dogs, only one tick species was identified , Rhipicephalus sanguineus. CONCLUSION: This study indicates a frequent circulation of species of Babesia in the dog in the Algiers region and R. sanguineus was the only tick identified.
RESUMO
Bartonella are blood-borne and vector-transmitted bacteria, some of which are zoonotic. B. bovis and B. chomelii have been reported in cattle. However, no information has yet been provided on Bartonella infection in cattle in Algeria. Therefore, 313 cattle from 45 dairy farms were surveyed in Kabylia, Algeria, in order to identify Bartonella species infecting cattle using serological and molecular tests. In addition, 277 ticks and 33 Hippoboscidae flies were collected. Bartonella bovis and B. chomelii were identified as the two species infecting cattle. Bartonella DNA was also amplified from 6.8 % (n = 19) of ticks and 78.8 % (n = 26) of flies. Prevalence of B. bovis DNA in dairy cattle was associated both with age and altitude. This study is the first one to report of bovine bartonellosis in Algeria, both in dairy cattle and in potential Bartonella vectors, with the detection of B. bovis DNA in tick samples and B. chomelii in fly samples.