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A PCR survey of vector-borne pathogens in different dog populations from Turkey

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Abstract

In the present study, a total of 192 blood samples were collected from pet dogs, kennel dogs and shepherd dogs in Konya district, Turkey, and tested by specific PCR for the presence of vector-borne pathogens. Several pathogens were identified, most of which can cause substantial morbidity in dogs. PCR results revealed that 54 (28.1%) dogs were infected with one or more pathogens. Positive results were obtained for Babesia spp. in 4 dogs (2.1%), Hepatozoon spp. in 8 dogs (4.2%) and Mycoplasma spp. in 46 dogs (24%). Three dogs (1.6%) were infected with two or three pathogens. The sequence analysis of the positive DNA samples revealed the presence of Babesia canis vogeli, Hepatozoon canis, Hepatozoon sp. MF, Mycoplasma haemocanis and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum. Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys were not detected. Regardless of ownership status, vector-borne diseases were common in these dog populations. There was significant difference of pathogen prevalence among the different dog populations. Mycoplasma spp. was more frequent in the kennel dogs (31.9%) than in the pet (21.4%) and shepherd dogs (13.8%). Additionally, the frequency of Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. was higher in the shepherd dogs which account for three quarters and half of the total number of Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp., respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Mycoplasma infection in dogs in Turkey. The results of the present study provide a foundation for understanding the epidemiology of canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs), and for strategies to control these diseases in Turkey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan

    Huanping Guo, Yang Gao, Paul Franck Adjou Moumouni, Mingming Liu, Artemis Efstratiou, Guanbo Wang, Shinuo Cao, Charoonluk Jirapattharasate, Aaron Edmond Ringo, Weiqing Zheng & Xuenan Xuan

  2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Ferda Sevinc, Onur Ceylan, Mutlu Sevinc & Ege Ince

  3. Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150001, People’s Republic of China

    Mo Zhou

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  1. Huanping Guo
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  2. Ferda Sevinc
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  3. Onur Ceylan
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  4. Mutlu Sevinc
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  5. Ege Ince
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  6. Yang Gao
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  11. Shinuo Cao
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  15. Weiqing Zheng
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  16. Xuenan Xuan
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Correspondence to Xuenan Xuan.

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Guo, H., Sevinc, F., Ceylan, O. et al. A PCR survey of vector-borne pathogens in different dog populations from Turkey. Acta Parasit. 62, 533–540 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2017-0064

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2017-0064

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