Ebani Valentina Virginia, Bertelloni Fabrizio, Torracca Beatrice, Cerri Domenico
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Italy.
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2014;21(4):671-5. doi: 10.5604/12321966.1129912.
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum are well known zoonotic pathogens, whereas Ehrlichia canis is usually considered to be of veterinary concern, although on the basis of recent reports it also seems to be able to infect humans.
The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l., A. phagocytophilum and E. canis in an Italian canine population, and to verify if there are differences between dogs living in urban areas and those from a rural environment.
Blood sera of 1,965 dogs, 1,235 from cities and 730 from rural areas, were tested by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFAT).
The overall seroprevalence was highest for E. canis (7.07%), followed by A. phagocytophilum (4.68%), and B. burgdorferi s.l. (1.47%). Rural dogs showed the highest seroprevalence to B. burgdorferi s.l. and A. phagocytophilum. No significant differences were observed between rural and urban E. canis-positive dogs. A low percentage (1.32%) of dogs with dual seropositivity was detected, and no triple positive reactions were observed. No significant differences were detected in the seroprevalence of the three agents in relationship to the age and gender of the dogs. Seroprevalence in the five years considered were not statistically different, except for the lowest rate for E. canis observed in 2012.
The results confirm the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l., A. phagocytophilum and E. canis in Italian dogs in both urban and rural areas. Monitoring pet dogs, which share the same environment with their owners, is useful for identifying the presence of tick-borne disease agents of both veterinary and public health significance.
广义伯氏疏螺旋体（Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato，B. burgdorferi s.l.）和嗜吞噬细胞无形体（Anaplasma phagocytophilum）是著名的人畜共患病原体，而犬埃立克体（Ehrlichia canis）通常被认为主要与兽医领域相关，不过根据最近的报告，它似乎也能够感染人类。
本研究旨在确定意大利犬类群体中B. burgdorferi s.l.、嗜吞噬细胞无形体和犬埃立克体的血清阳性率，并验证生活在城市地区的犬与农村地区的犬之间是否存在差异。
采用间接免疫荧光试验（IFAT）检测了1965只犬的血清，其中1235只来自城市，730只来自农村。
犬埃立克体的总体血清阳性率最高（7.07%），其次是嗜吞噬细胞无形体（4.68%）和B. burgdorferi s.l.（1.47%）。农村犬对B. burgdorferi s.l.和嗜吞噬细胞无形体的血清阳性率最高。农村和城市的犬埃立克体阳性犬之间未观察到显著差异。检测到双血清阳性犬的比例较低（1.32%），未观察到三阳性反应。在这三种病原体的血清阳性率与犬的年龄和性别之间未检测到显著差异。在所考虑的五年中，血清阳性率无统计学差异，但2012年观察到犬埃立克体的最低发生率。
结果证实了意大利城市和农村地区的犬中均存在B. burgdorferi s.l.、嗜吞噬细胞无形体和犬埃立克体。监测与主人共享同一环境的宠物犬，有助于识别具有兽医和公共卫生意义的蜱传病原体的存在。
