Abstract

RIOS-USUGA, C. et al. Molecular identification of hemotropic microorganisms transmitted by vectors in domestic canines from different veterinary centers in Medellín, Colombia. Rev. Med. Vet. Zoot. [online]. 2023, vol.70, n.2, pp.206-219.  Epub Apr 16, 2024. ISSN 0120-2952.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rfmvz.v70n2.104573.

Vector-borne pathogens commonly known as "haemoparasites" are hemotropic organisms that range from nematodes, protozoa, viruses, and bacteria. This is a retrospective study of the databases of 3,300 dogs that aims to evaluate the frequency by qPCR for 9 hemotropics in the city of Medellín between June 2021 and March 2022, and the correlation of the presence of these agents with the Clinical manifestations and hemoleukograms of 20 positive dogs. Of the total dogs tested, 60% were positive to one or more agents. The number of animals infected with one, two, or three agents was 42.9% (1416/3,300), 17.7% (583/3,300), and 1.3% (42/3,300), respectively. In order from highest to lowest presence of haemoparasites, the number of dogs positive for a single agent was: Anaplasma spp. (14.1%), Mycoplasma spp. (13.9%), Ehrlichia spp. (6.1%), Hepatozoon spp. (5.4%), Babesia spp. (1%), filariae (0.9%), and Bartonella spp. (0.6%). The main clinicopathological alterations in 9 of 20 dogs positive for some haemoparasite and with nonspecific clinical signs (fever, anorexia, myalgia, lethargy) were anemia and/or thrombocytopenia, with or without an inflammatory leukogram. However, the absence of clinicopathological alterations in 11/20 positive animals does not rule out the presence of infection since the animals had a normal blood count. Experimental and field studies have shown that many dogs positive by serology and/or qPCR are clinically normal, and although they do not present an active infection, they may be asymptomatic carriers of haemoparasites. In this study the results are discussed and compared with others carried out in Colombia for the main haemoparasites of dogs.

Keywords : PCR; vector borne diseases; frequency; canine.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )