RESUMEN
Ticks are important vectors in transmitting various pathogens and they could jeopardize the health and welfare of humans and animals worldwide. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of important tick-borne haemopathogens (TBH) in dogs and ticks via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. A total of 220 blood samples and 140 ticks were collected from 10 animal shelters in Peninsular Malaysia. Of 220 blood samples, 77 (35 %) were positive to TBH, of which 20 % were E. canis, 12 % were A. platys, 7 % were B. gibsoni and 7 % were B. vogeli. All ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus with five samples (3.57 %) positive with TBH. Co-infections of TBH (0.45-9.55 %) in dogs were also observed in this study.
Asunto(s)
Vectores Arácnidos/microbiología , Enfermedades de los Perros/diagnóstico , Rhipicephalus sanguineus/microbiología , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/veterinaria , Anaplasma/clasificación , Anaplasma/aislamiento & purificación , Animales , Babesia/clasificación , Babesia/aislamiento & purificación , Enfermedades de los Perros/sangre , Enfermedades de los Perros/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Perros/parasitología , Perros , Ehrlichia canis/clasificación , Ehrlichia canis/aislamiento & purificación , Femenino , Malasia/epidemiología , Masculino , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/sangre , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/diagnóstico , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
This study determined the potential risk factors that may contribute to seropositivity among dogs and dog handlers from working dog and dog shelter institutions. Data was collected from dogs (n = 266) and dog handlers (n = 161) using a standardised guided questionnaire. Serum obtained from the dogs and dog handlers was tested using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). A logistic regression analysis was used to predict leptospiral seropositivity of dogs and dog handlers based on potential risk factors. A total of 22.2% of dogs and 21.7% of dog handlers were seropositive. The significant predictors for the dogs' seropositivity were presence of rats (OR = 4.61 (95% CI: 1.05, 20.33), p = 0.043) and shared common area (OR = 5.12 (95% CI: 1.94, 13.46), p = 0.001) within the organisation. Significant predictor for dog handler seropositivity was contact time with the dogs of more than six hours/day (OR = 3.28 (95% CI: 1.28, 8.40), p = 0.013) after controlling for the effect of other risk factors such as small mammal contact, rat infestation at home, flooding at housing area (within three months) and urban locality. The exposure to various disease sources identified poses risk to dogs and dog handlers. Risk could be reduced with adequate application of protection at work while handling dogs and thus limiting contact with these sources and reducing exposure to infection.