Identification of vector-borne diseases in domestic dogs using biomolecular techniques and implications for human health

The number of domestic dog owners has been increased in recent years worldwide and domestic dogs are nowadays the closest animal companion to human beings. Due to these aspects, they can represent a potential reservoir of vector-borne diseases. Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) comprise a group of parasitic and infectious diseases caused by several pathogens (e.g., bacteria, protozoa, and helminths), which are transmitted by arthropod vectors, including ticks, fleas, lice, mosquitoes, and phlebotomine sand flies. Because CVBDs causing pathogens (e.g. Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp., Anaplasma spp., Borrelia spp.) are of major zoonotic concern, they represent an increased public health threat for domestic dogs and their owners. Therefore, the study of CVBDs can help to recognize the disease affecting human health. In this study, 273 blood samples were collected in an area in southern Ethiopia by FTA cards and analyzed by biomolecular techniques (i.e. conventional PCR, real-time PCR and multiple real-time PCR) in order to identify the infection and parasitic/infective agents and emphasized the importance of molecular methods in distinctive CVBD pathogens. Hepatozoon canis DNA and Babesia canis rossi DNA were detected in 141 (51.6%) and 9 (3.3%) samples, respectively. No Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. DNA were detected in samples by multiple real-time PCR. In this study, Hepatozoon canis had the highest detection rate, while Anaplasma and Borrelia appeared to be absent in the study area. The relevance of encountered pathogens should be further investigated.