Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tick-borne infections found in rural dogs near Brazilian conservation
By Araújo, Bruno Vinicios Silva de et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2025·Programa de Pó·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Molecular survey of tick-borne pathogens in domestic dogs from a rural region within the buffer zone of a conservation unit in the Brazilian Caatinga biome.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 52 dogs living near a national park in Brazil were tested for tick-borne diseases, and over 90% were found to be infected with at least one pathogen. The most common infections were caused by Ehrlichia canis and Hepatozoon canis, with many dogs having multiple infections at the same time. This study highlights the high risk of tick-borne diseases in these dogs and raises concerns about the potential spread of these infections to wildlife in the area. Regular veterinary check-ups and tick prevention are important for keeping pets healthy in these regions.
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Abstract
Although previous studies have identified Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Babesia vogeli, and Hepatozoon canis in dogs in Northeastern Brazil, research on their presence within and around environmental conservation units remains scarce. The present study investigated the presence of tick-borne pathogens in domestic dogs in the rural region of Baraúna, within the buffer zone of the Furna Feia National Park (FFNP), an environmental conservation unit in the Caatinga biome of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. Blood samples from 52 dogs were collected to detect the presence of A. platys (16S rRNA), B. vogeli (18S rRNA), E. canis (16S rRNA), and H. canis (18S rRNA) DNA by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). More than 90% of dogs were found to be infected with at least one pathogen, predominantly E. canis and H. canis. Co-infections (38.5%) and multi-infections with three (19.2%) and four (5.8%) pathogens were also frequent and diverse, underscoring the complexity of tick-borne diseases in this region. These findings highlight the epidemiological importance of dog-associated pathogens, and raise concerns regarding their potential transmission to wildlife within the conservation unit, as some of these pathogens have been previously described in wild mammalian species inhabiting the FFNP, including endangered species.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40608628/