Trapp Silvia M, Dagnone Ana S, Vidotto Odilon, Freire Roberta L, Amude Alexandre M, de Morais Helio S Autran
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 86.051-970 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
Vet Parasitol. 2006 Sep 10;140(3-4):223-30. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.03.030. Epub 2006 May 2.
Canine ehrlichiosis and babesiosis have a worldwide distribution with geographic variation in prevalence and main clinical manifestations. We prospectively determined seroprevalence of canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis, and risk factors for seropositivity. Three hundred and eighty-one dogs were randomly selected to represent the canine population at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in south Brazil (latitude 23 degrees S). Dogs were tested with a point-of-care ELISA for Ehrlichia canis antibodies and IFA to confirm previous exposure to Babesia vogeli. Multiple logistic regression analysis was then used to estimate adjusted odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals. One hundred and thirty-six (36%) dogs were seropositive for B. vogeli antibodies, whereas 87 (23%) dogs were seropositive to E. canis antibodies. Fifty-four (14%) dogs seroreacted to both agents. Adult dogs previously infested with ticks were more likely to seroreact to B. vogeli or E. canis. Superficial bleeding (OR = 12.4) was more common in dogs exposed to B. vogeli, whereas neurological signs (OR = 7.7) were more common in dogs seropositive to E. canis. Neurological signs (OR = 12.0) and lameness (OR = 12.8) were more prevalent in dogs that seroreacted to both organisms. Owners of dogs with ticks were more likely to have been exposed to ticks themselves (OR = 3.2). Canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis appear to be highly prevalent in this hospital population. Clinical signs differed from the most common signs in other regions with bleeding occurring more in dogs seropositive to babesiosis, but not ehrlichiosis; neurologic signs in dogs with E. canis antibodies; and lameness in dogs that seroreacted to both organisms.
犬埃立克体病和巴贝斯虫病在全球范围内均有分布，其患病率和主要临床表现存在地理差异。我们前瞻性地确定了犬巴贝斯虫病和埃立克体病的血清阳性率以及血清阳性的危险因素。在巴西南部一家兽医教学医院（南纬23度）随机挑选了381只狗来代表犬类群体。使用即时检验酶联免疫吸附测定法检测犬埃立克体抗体，并采用间接荧光抗体试验确认先前是否接触过伯氏巴贝斯虫。然后使用多元逻辑回归分析来估计调整后的比值比（OR）及其95%置信区间。136只（36%）狗的伯氏巴贝斯虫抗体呈血清阳性，而87只（23%）狗的犬埃立克体抗体呈血清阳性。54只（14%）狗对两种病原体均呈血清反应阳性。先前感染过蜱虫的成年犬更有可能对伯氏巴贝斯虫或犬埃立克体呈血清反应阳性。在接触伯氏巴贝斯虫的狗中，浅表出血（OR = 12.4）更为常见，而在犬埃立克体抗体呈血清阳性的狗中，神经症状（OR = 7.7）更为常见。在对两种病原体均呈血清反应阳性的狗中，神经症状（OR = 12.0）和跛行（OR = 12.8）更为普遍。有蜱虫的狗的主人自己接触蜱虫的可能性更大（OR = 3.2）。在该医院的犬类群体中，犬巴贝斯虫病和埃立克体病似乎高度流行。临床症状与其他地区最常见的症状不同，血清阳性的巴贝斯虫病犬出血更多，但埃立克体病犬并非如此；犬埃立克体抗体呈血清阳性的狗有神经症状；对两种病原体均呈血清反应阳性的狗有跛行症状。
