A serological study of exposure to arthropod-borne pathogens in dogs from northeastern Spain
Open accessAbstract
There is limited information regarding the prevalence of many vector borne pathogens in Europe and especially in Spanish dogs. We investigated 206 sick and 260 clinically healthy dogs from three different regions in northeastern Spain for antibodies to Rickettsia conorii (Rc), Ehrlichia canis (Ec), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap), Bartonella henselae (Bh), Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (Bvb), Leishmania infantum (Li) and Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) and for antigen of Dirofilaria immitis (Di). Total prevalences were the following: Rc (56.4%), Li (30%), Ec (16.7%), Bh (16.8%), Ap (11.5%), Bvb (1.07%), Di (0.6%) and Bb (0.6%). Seroprevalences for Rc, Ec, Ap, Bh, and Bvb and Bb and Di antigens were similar among the three different study sites. The Ec seroprevalence, as determined by Snap 3DX, was statistically lower in dogs from Mallorca (0%) than Tarragona (16%) and Barcelona (5%) (P < 0.0001). Detection of Rc antibodies was associated with seroreactivity to Ec and Ap antigens (P = 0.018 and P = 0.002, respectively). IFA Ec antibodies were associated with Ap seroreactivity (P < 0.0001). There was no association between the clinical status, sex, time of the year when samples were collected, life-style or exposure to fleas or ticks and a positive test result for Ec, Bh, Bvb, or Bb antibodies or Di antigens. Li seroreactivity was associated with illness and living outdoors (P < 0.0001, P = 0.029; respectively), Rc seroreactivity with the male gender (P = 0.028) and Ap seroreactivity with living outdoors (P = 0.045). This study indicates that exposure to Rc, Li, Ec or related Ehrlichia spp., Bh and Ap or a related spp., is common whereas Di, Bb and Bvb is uncommon among dogs from the Mediterranean basin. We also provide serological data that suggests the existence of a novel Ehrlichia species on Mallorca island.
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In Spain, another study shows prevalences of 2% in Barcelona, 0.85% in Tarragona, and 0.3% on the island of Mallorca.
“Another study shows prevalences of 2% in Barcelona, 0.85% in Tarragona, and 0.3% on the island of Mallorca (Solano-Gallego et al., 2006).”
From Heartworm Disease (Dirofilaria immitis) and Their Vectors in Europe – New Distribution Trends (2012) · cites this paper as Solano-Gallego et al., 2006
In the last 15 years, a slight increase in heartworm can be confirmed in most autonomous communities, with decreasing prevalences or similar values only in Aragon, Catalonia, Valencian Community, Madrid and Castilla y León.
“in the last 15 years a slight increase in heartworm can be confirmed in most of the autonomous communities, with decreasing prevalences or with similar values only in Aragon, Catalonia, Valencian Community, Madrid and Castilla y León.”
From Expansion of canine heartworm in Spain (2022) · cites this paper as [7]
The last study in 2006 reported a canine heartworm prevalence of 2% in the Barcelona region.
“The last study in 2006 reported a canine prevalence of 2% [15].”
From First epidemiological report of feline heartworm infection in the Barcelona metropolitan area (Spain) (2014) · cites this paper as [15]
Other authors have reported similar Ec seroprevalence in household dogs (3.13-16.7%) and higher seroprevalence (54.7%) in stray dogs from northwest Spain.
“Other authors have reported a similar Ec seroprevalence for different areas of the country in household dogs (3.13- 16.7%) [19,20] along with a higher seroprevalence (54.7%) in stray dogs from the northwest of Spain [20].”
From Seropositivity rates for agents of canine vector-borne diseases in Spain: A multicentre study (2013) · cites this paper as [19]
In Spain there are few studies reporting Anaplasma spp. and E. canis as widely distributed in the northeast, center and southwest of the country, with prevalences between 1% and 20%.
“in Spain there are few studies reporting these diseases being widely distributed in the northeast, center and southwest of the country, with prevalences between 1 and 20% (9, 23).”
From Current Distribution of Selected Vector-Borne Diseases in Dogs in Spain (2020) · cites this paper as [23]
The Valencian Community, Murcia, Andalucía, Extremadura, and the Balearic Islands have traditionally been considered endemic areas for L. infantum in Spain.
“which have been traditionally considered the endemic areas of the disease in Spain (9, 23, 46).”
From Current Distribution of Selected Vector-Borne Diseases in Dogs in Spain (2020) · cites this paper as [23]
Other previous studies have published seroprevalence data for Anaplasma spp. and E. canis mostly from localized areas or provinces of Asturias, Aragon, Catalonia, Andalusia, the Valencian Community or the Balearic Islands.
“other previous studies have published seroprevalence data that were mostly reported in localized areas or provinces of the autonomous communities of Asturias, Aragon, Catalonia, Andalusia, the Valencian Community or the Balearic Islands (9, 23, 69)”
From Current Distribution of Selected Vector-Borne Diseases in Dogs in Spain (2020) · cites this paper as [23]
This finding agrees with previous studies on vector-borne diseases.
“This agrees with previous studies carried out in vector-borne diseases (9, 23, 34).”
From Current Distribution of Selected Vector-Borne Diseases in Dogs in Spain (2020) · cites this paper as [23]
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References 47 · Cited by 122
- Authors
- Solano-Gallego, L., Llull, J., Osso, M., Hegarty, B., & Breitschwerdt, E.
- Affiliations
- North Carolina State University (US)
- Venue
- Veterinary Research
- Publisher
- EDP Sciences
- Published
- 2006-03
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 231-244
- ISSN
- 0928-4249 (ISSN-L)
- 1297-9716
- OpenAlex
- W1987933288
- Cited by
- 122
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 4.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Veterinary Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- North Carolina State University
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Bartonella species infections research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Keywords
- arthropod-borne pathogens, dogs, seroprevalence, Rickettsia conorii, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella henselae, Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, Leishmania infantum, Borrelia burgdorferi, Dirofilaria immitis, Mallorca, northeastern Spain, Mediterranean basin, zoonoses
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animal Husbandry, Antibodies, Bacterial, Antibodies, Protozoan, Bacterial Infections, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Female, Male, Protozoan Infections, Animal, Seasons, Sex Factors, Spain, Ticks, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Tick-Borne Diseases
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