Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Dirofilaria immitis in Canadian dogs, 2008 to 2015: a repeat cross-sectional study

• Published in: Parasites & vectors 2019-01, Vol.12 (1), p.64-64, Article 64
• Main Authors: Evason, Michelle, Stull, Jason W, Pearl, David L, Peregrine, Andrew S, Jardine, Claire, Buch, Jesse S, Lailer, Zachary, O'Connor, Tom, Chandrashekar, Ramaswamy, Weese, J Scott
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; analytical kits; Anaplasma; Anaplasma - immunology; Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Anaplasmosis; Anaplasmosis - epidemiology; Anaplasmosis - parasitology; Animals; Antigens; Arachnids; Borrelia burgdorferi; Borrelia burgdorferi - immunology; Borrelia infections; Canada; Canada - epidemiology; Co-infection; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnosis; Dirofilaria immitis; Dirofilaria immitis - immunology; Dirofilariasis - epidemiology; Dirofilariasis - parasitology; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dogs; Ehrlichia; Ehrlichia - immunology; Ehrlichia canis; Ehrlichiosis - epidemiology; Ehrlichiosis - parasitology; Ehrlichiosis - veterinary; Health aspects; Health risks; Heartworm; Immunoglobulins; Infections; Lyme; Lyme disease; Lyme Disease - epidemiology; Lyme Disease - parasitology; Lyme Disease - veterinary; Medical research; Pathogenic microorganisms; Pathogens; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); Regions; Risk assessment; Risk factors; risk reduction; Roundworms; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; seroprevalence; Studies; Tick-borne; Tick-borne diseases; Vector-borne; Vector-borne diseases; Vectors (Biology); West Nile virus
• ISSN: 1756-3305; 1756-3305
• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3299-9

Vector-borne pathogens are emerging concerns in multiple regions of Canada. Determining regional prevalence of canine vector-borne pathogens and documenting change will improve clinician awareness, enable targeted prevention, enhance diagnosis and ideally reduce the risk of disease. Study objectives were to: (i) estimate the prevalence of positive canine vector-borne test results from samples submitted in Canada; (ii) assess change in prevalence over time, from baseline (2008) to 2015; and (iii) estimate the prevalence of pathogen co-infections. This repeat cross-sectional study evaluated 753,468 test results for D. immitis antigen and B. burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis/ewingii/muris serology, and 753,208 test results for Anaplasma phagocytophilum/platys serology using the SNAP® 4Dx®Test and SNAP 4Dx® Plus Test. Based on all submitted samples from Canada (2008-2015), the period seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi, Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp. and D. immitis antigen were 2.0%, 0.5%, 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively. Over the 7 years (2008 compared to 2015) we observed a significant increase in seroprevalence for B. burgdorferi (144.4%) and Ehrlichia spp. (150%). Co-infections (positive for two or more pathogens on a single 4 pathogen test kit) were estimated at 5.4% (1162/21,612) of total positive tests. The temporal rise and geographical differences in prevalence detected for these pathogens (notably B. burgdorferi) are consistent with anecdotal information on canine illness related to tick-borne pathogen exposure in multiple regions of Canada, particularly canine Lyme disease.