Exposure to Major Vector-Borne Diseases in Dogs Subjected to Different Preventative Regimens in Endemic Areas of Italy
Open accessAbstract
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are globally widespread arthropod-transmitted diseases with a significant impact on animal and human health. Many drivers have recently spurred the geographic spread of VBDs in dogs. This study has evaluated the exposure to most important VBDs in dogs under different preventative treatments in different regions of Italy, i.e., Veneto, Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Umbria, Giglio Island (Tuscany), Abruzzo and Latium. Serological analyses were performed to detect antibodies against Leishmania infantum, Babesia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum/Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia canis/Ehrlichia ewingii, Borrelia burgdorferi, Rickettsia conorii and the circulating antigen of Dirofilaria immitis. Dogs were categorized according to the treatment schedule usually received, and the association between seropositivity and possible risk factors was statistically evaluated. Overall, 124/242 (51.2%) dogs tested positive for at least one pathogen, while 34 (14.0%) were exposed to two or more pathogens. The most detected seropositivity was against R. conorii, followed by Anaplasma spp., L. infantum, B. canis, and the other pathogens under study. Significant statistical associations were found according to geographical provenance, history of tick infestation, lifestyle and inadequate prophylactic treatments. Random/irregular treatments have been identified as a clear risk factor. These results show that adequate prophylactic treatment protocols are overlooked by dog owners, despite the availability of several effective products, with possible implications in veterinary medicine and on public health.
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In central Italy (Latium, Tuscany, Umbria), canine heartworm prevalence ranged from 0.2 to 6.9%, while in southern Italy it ranged between 0.2 and 44.2%.
“In Latium, Tuscany, and Umbria (central Italy), prevalence ranged from 0.2 to 6.9% [29,32,33], while in southern Italy, the prevalence ranged between 0.2 and 44.2% [34,35,36,37].”
From What has happened to heartworm disease in Europe in the last 10 years? (2022) · cites this paper as [29]
In Giglio and Sardinia, canine heartworm prevalence was 2.4% and 8.9%, respectively, and on Linosa and Lampedusa islands D. immitis was detected at 58.9%.
“Finally, the prevalence in Giglio and Sardinia were 2.4 and 8.9%, respectively [29,39]. In addition, on the Linosa and Lampedusa islands, D. immitis was detected at 58.9% [40].”
From What has happened to heartworm disease in Europe in the last 10 years? (2022) · cites this paper as [29]
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References 76 · Cited by 24
- Authors
- Colombo, M., Morelli, S., Simonato, G., Di Cesare, A., Veronesi, F., Frangipane di Regalbono, A., Grassi, L., Russi, I., Tiscar, P. G., Morganti, G., Hattab, J., Rizzo, V., & Traversa, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Teramo (IT)
- University of Padua (IT)
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
- University of Perugia (IT)
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
- Corresponding author
- Traversa, Donato
- ORCID
- Venue
- Pathogens
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2021-04-23
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 507
- ISSN
- 2076-0817 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8146437
- OpenAlex
- W3159697584
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 76
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7
- FWCI
- 3.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Pathogens (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- UniTERAMO Research Catalog (University of Teramo) (submittedVersion)
- Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Bartonella species infections research
- Keywords
- vector-borne diseases, dogs, canine seroprevalence, tick-borne diseases, Rickettsia conorii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Leishmania infantum, Babesia canis, Ehrlichia canis, Borrelia burgdorferi, Dirofilaria immitis, tick infestation, risk factors
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