Xhekaj Betim, Kniha Edwin, Wiesmüller Linda, Hoxha Ina, Eigner Barbara, Stefanovska Jovana, Cvetkovikj Aleksandar, Sherifi Kurtesh, Fuehrer Hans-Peter
Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, University of Prishtina, Bulevardi "Bill Clinton", 10000, Pristina, Kosovo.
Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Parasit Vectors. 2025 Apr 9;18(1):136. doi: 10.1186/s13071-025-06777-0.
Canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBP) are transmitted by arthropod vectors such as ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, and phlebotomine sand flies and are of global veterinary and medical importance. Dogs are important reservoir hosts, which may develop potentially life-threatening clinical signs. The Balkan area harbors diverse vector fauna and associated CVBPs, and data, particularly from the Republic of Kosovo, are scarce. Considering the high number of stray and privately owned dogs primarily kept outside, living in close contact with dogs might promote spillover of zoonotic pathogens to human populations. To combat these diseases, a One Health approach is required. Therefore, our study molecularly analyzed samples of dogs for CVBP.
Blood samples of 276 dogs originating from all seven districts of Kosovo collected from 2021 to 2022 were screened using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing for a substantial set of pathogens, including Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Ehrlichia spp., Filarioidea, Hepatozoon spp., Mycoplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., and Trypanosoma spp. Prevalence rates were statistically assessed on the basis of various factors such as sex, breed, age, and district.
In total, 150 (54.3%) dogs tested positive for at least one pathogen, comprising eight species of five genera. The most prevalent pathogens detected were Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (55; 19.9%), Hepatozoon canis (52; 18.8%), and Mycoplasma haemocanis (49; 17.8%). We also detected double (32; 11.6%) and triple (5; 1.8%) infections, with the latter involving combinations of Mycoplasma spp., Dirofilaria repens, Dirofilaria immitis, H. canis, or Babesia vulpes. In addition, prevalence rates were calculated and mapped by district. Of all included factors, significant prevalence differences were found for purebred/mixed breed dogs as well as between age groups.
This study provides the first comprehensive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based screening and detection of vector-borne pathogens in dogs from Kosovo and highlights the circulation of pathogens with high veterinary importance and zoonotic potential.
犬媒传播病原体（CVBP）通过蜱、跳蚤、蚊子和白蛉等节肢动物媒介传播，具有全球兽医和医学重要性。犬是重要的储存宿主，可能出现危及生命的临床症状。巴尔干地区拥有多样的媒介动物群和相关的CVBP，但数据，尤其是来自科索沃共和国的数据稀缺。考虑到大量流浪狗和主要饲养在户外的私人饲养犬，与狗密切接触可能会促进人畜共患病原体向人类的溢出。为了对抗这些疾病，需要采取“同一健康”方法。因此，我们的研究对犬样本进行了CVBP的分子分析。
对2021年至2022年从科索沃所有七个地区采集的276只犬的血液样本，使用聚合酶链反应（PCR）和测序技术对大量病原体进行筛查，包括无形体属、巴贝斯虫属、巴尔通体属、埃立克体属、丝虫总科、肝簇虫属、支原体属、立克次体属和锥虫属。根据性别、品种、年龄和地区等各种因素对患病率进行统计学评估。
总共150只（54.3%）犬至少对一种病原体检测呈阳性，包括五个属的八个物种。检测到的最常见病原体是犬微小支原体（55只；19.9%）、犬肝簇虫（52只；18.8%）和犬血支原体（49只；17.8%）。我们还检测到双重感染（32只；11.6%）和三重感染（5只；1.8%），后者涉及支原体属、匐行恶丝虫、犬恶丝虫、犬肝簇虫或狐巴贝斯虫的组合。此外，还按地区计算并绘制了患病率。在所有纳入因素中，发现纯种/混种犬以及不同年龄组之间的患病率存在显著差异。
本研究首次对科索沃犬进行了基于聚合酶链反应（PCR）的全面筛查和检测媒介传播病原体，并突出了具有高度兽医重要性和人畜共患潜力的病原体的传播情况。
