Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.
PLoS One. 2024 Mar 7;19(3):e0297373. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297373. eCollection 2024.
Rickettsiosis is caused by Orientia spp. and Rickettsia spp., arthropod-borne zoonotic intracellular bacteria. The close relationships between pet dogs, cats and owners increase the risk of rickettsial transmission, with limited studies on the seroprevalence in pets. This study investigated the prevalence of rickettsia exposure among dogs and cats in Bangkok and neighboring provinces. The samples from 367 dogs and 187 cats used in this study were leftover serum samples from routine laboratory testing stored at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. In-house Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests included IgG against the scrub typhus group (STG), typhus group (TG), and spotted fever group (SFG). The seroprevalence in pet dogs was 30.25% (111/367), including 21.53% for STG, 4.36% for TG, and 1.09% for SFG. Co-seroprevalence consisted of 2.72% for STG and TG, 0.27% for STG and SFG, and 0.27% for pangroup infection. The prevalence in cats was 62.56% (117/187), including 28.34% for STG, 4.28% for TG, and 6.42% for STG. Co-seroprevalence in cats consisted of STG and TG (4.28%), STG and SFG (5.35%), TG and SFG (3.21%), and three-group infection (10.69%). No significant difference in seroprevalence for the three serogroups was observed in any of the 64 districts sampled. The mean hematocrit level significantly decreased in seropositive dogs (P<0.05). Seropositive dogs and cats were detected in significantly greater numbers of anemia cases than nonanemia cases (P<0.05) (odds ratio: 7.93, 0.44, p = 0.00, p = 0.01). A significantly higher number of seropositive cats had decreased hemoglobin levels (P<0.05) (odds ratio: 3.63, p = 0.00). The seropositive samples significantly differed among older cats (P<0.05). These high exposures in pet dogs and cats could constitute important relationship dynamics between companion animals and rickettsial vectors. Significantly decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin levels indicated anemia in the exposed dogs and cats. The study findings will raise awareness of this neglected disease among pet owners and veterinary hospital personnel and aid in future public health preventative planning.
恙虫病是由东方体属和立克次体属的节肢动物传播的细胞内共生细菌引起的。宠物狗、猫和主人之间的密切关系增加了立克次体传播的风险，但关于宠物的血清阳性率的研究有限。本研究调查了曼谷及周边省份宠物狗和猫中恙虫病的暴露情况。本研究使用的 367 只狗和 187 只猫的样本是兽医教学医院常规实验室检测的剩余血清样本。内部酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测包括针对恙虫病组（STG）、斑疹伤寒组（TG）和斑点热组（SFG）的 IgG。宠物狗的血清阳性率为 30.25%（111/367），其中 STG 为 21.53%，TG 为 4.36%，SFG 为 1.09%。共血清阳性率包括 STG 和 TG 为 2.72%，STG 和 SFG 为 0.27%，泛组感染为 0.27%。猫的阳性率为 62.56%（117/187），其中 STG 为 28.34%，TG 为 4.28%，SFG 为 6.42%。猫的共血清阳性率包括 STG 和 TG（4.28%）、STG 和 SFG（5.35%）、TG 和 SFG（3.21%）和三组感染（10.69%）。在采样的 64 个区中，任何一组的三种血清群的血清阳性率均无显著差异。血清阳性犬的平均红细胞压积水平显著降低（P<0.05）。与非贫血病例相比，血清阳性犬和猫的贫血病例明显增多（P<0.05）（比值比：7.93，0.44，p=0.00，p=0.01）。血清阳性猫的血红蛋白水平明显降低（P<0.05）（比值比：3.63，p=0.00）。老年猫的血清阳性样本差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。这些宠物狗和猫的高暴露率可能构成了伴侣动物与立克次体媒介之间的重要关系动态。暴露犬和猫的红细胞压积和血红蛋白水平明显降低表明贫血。这些研究结果将提高宠物主人和兽医医院工作人员对这种被忽视疾病的认识，并有助于未来的公共卫生预防规划。
