Serosurvey of <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and <i>Ehrlichia canis</i> in Dogs from Shelters in Sicily (Southern Italy)
Vector-borne diseases represent a serious threat to human and animal health, especially where environmental conditions favor pathogen-carrying vectors. Dogs serve as natural hosts for two tick-borne pathogens: <i>Ehrlichia canis</i>, which causes canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, and spotte...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| author | Santina Di Bella Delia Gambino Davide Pepe Antonino Gentile Valeria Blanda Antonio Valenti Francesco Santangelo Antonino Ballatore Giuseppe Spina Giuseppe Barbaccia Vincenza Cannella Giovanni Cassata Annalisa Guercio |
| author_facet | Santina Di Bella Delia Gambino Davide Pepe Antonino Gentile Valeria Blanda Antonio Valenti Francesco Santangelo Antonino Ballatore Giuseppe Spina Giuseppe Barbaccia Vincenza Cannella Giovanni Cassata Annalisa Guercio |
| author_sort | Santina Di Bella |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vector-borne diseases represent a serious threat to human and animal health, especially where environmental conditions favor pathogen-carrying vectors. Dogs serve as natural hosts for two tick-borne pathogens: <i>Ehrlichia canis</i>, which causes canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, and spotted fever group (SFG) <i>Rickettsia</i> spp., a zoonotic threat in the Mediterranean region. <i>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</i> is the primary vector for these pathogens. Shelter dogs, due to increased exposure to ticks and confined living conditions, facilitate the spread of vector-borne pathogens, raising the risk of zoonotic transmission. This study conducted a serological survey of 1287 dogs from two shelters, assessing exposure to <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and <i>E. canis</i> and examining the influence of demographic and environmental factors. Seroprevalence rates were 41.8% for <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and 24.5% for <i>E. canis</i>, with 14% of dogs positive for both pathogens. No significant association was found with sex or breed. A higher seroprevalence was observed in dogs older than 12 months and in those from the shelter on the Mediterranean coast compared to those from the Tyrrhenian coast, likely due to climatic differences. The study highlights the role of climate in disease spread and the need for public health interventions, supporting One Health initiatives to prevent zoonotic disease transmission. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8f4c5b88766445c4845850dfdd7f0b9e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-8f4c5b88766445c4845850dfdd7f0b9e2024-12-27T14:45:27ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172024-12-011312111910.3390/pathogens13121119Serosurvey of <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and <i>Ehrlichia canis</i> in Dogs from Shelters in Sicily (Southern Italy)Santina Di Bella0Delia Gambino1Davide Pepe2Antonino Gentile3Valeria Blanda4Antonio Valenti5Francesco Santangelo6Antonino Ballatore7Giuseppe Spina8Giuseppe Barbaccia9Vincenza Cannella10Giovanni Cassata11Annalisa Guercio12Centro di Referenza Nazionale per Anaplasma, Babesia Rickettsia, e Theileria (C.R.A.Ba.R.T.), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyArea Territoriale Palermo, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale per Anaplasma, Babesia Rickettsia, e Theileria (C.R.A.Ba.R.T.), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale per Anaplasma, Babesia Rickettsia, e Theileria (C.R.A.Ba.R.T.), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale per Anaplasma, Babesia Rickettsia, e Theileria (C.R.A.Ba.R.T.), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Prevenzione Veterinario UOS Presidi di Igiene Urbana Veterinaria (Canile), Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Prevenzione Veterinario UOS Presidi di Igiene Urbana Veterinaria (Canile), Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, ItalyRifugio Sanitario Municipale di Mazara del Vallo, Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Trapani, 91026 Mazara del Vallo, ItalyRifugio Sanitario Municipale di Mazara del Vallo, Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Trapani, 91026 Mazara del Vallo, ItalyArea Territoriale Palermo, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale per Anaplasma, Babesia Rickettsia, e Theileria (C.R.A.Ba.R.T.), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyArea Territoriale Palermo, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale per Anaplasma, Babesia Rickettsia, e Theileria (C.R.A.Ba.R.T.), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyVector-borne diseases represent a serious threat to human and animal health, especially where environmental conditions favor pathogen-carrying vectors. Dogs serve as natural hosts for two tick-borne pathogens: <i>Ehrlichia canis</i>, which causes canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, and spotted fever group (SFG) <i>Rickettsia</i> spp., a zoonotic threat in the Mediterranean region. <i>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</i> is the primary vector for these pathogens. Shelter dogs, due to increased exposure to ticks and confined living conditions, facilitate the spread of vector-borne pathogens, raising the risk of zoonotic transmission. This study conducted a serological survey of 1287 dogs from two shelters, assessing exposure to <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and <i>E. canis</i> and examining the influence of demographic and environmental factors. Seroprevalence rates were 41.8% for <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and 24.5% for <i>E. canis</i>, with 14% of dogs positive for both pathogens. No significant association was found with sex or breed. A higher seroprevalence was observed in dogs older than 12 months and in those from the shelter on the Mediterranean coast compared to those from the Tyrrhenian coast, likely due to climatic differences. The study highlights the role of climate in disease spread and the need for public health interventions, supporting One Health initiatives to prevent zoonotic disease transmission.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/12/1119<i>Rickettsia</i> spp.<i>Ehrlichia canis</i>dogsshelterOne Health |
| spellingShingle | Santina Di Bella Delia Gambino Davide Pepe Antonino Gentile Valeria Blanda Antonio Valenti Francesco Santangelo Antonino Ballatore Giuseppe Spina Giuseppe Barbaccia Vincenza Cannella Giovanni Cassata Annalisa Guercio Serosurvey of <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and <i>Ehrlichia canis</i> in Dogs from Shelters in Sicily (Southern Italy) Pathogens <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. <i>Ehrlichia canis</i> dogs shelter One Health |
| title | Serosurvey of <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and <i>Ehrlichia canis</i> in Dogs from Shelters in Sicily (Southern Italy) |
| title_full | Serosurvey of <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and <i>Ehrlichia canis</i> in Dogs from Shelters in Sicily (Southern Italy) |
| title_fullStr | Serosurvey of <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and <i>Ehrlichia canis</i> in Dogs from Shelters in Sicily (Southern Italy) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serosurvey of <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and <i>Ehrlichia canis</i> in Dogs from Shelters in Sicily (Southern Italy) |
| title_short | Serosurvey of <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and <i>Ehrlichia canis</i> in Dogs from Shelters in Sicily (Southern Italy) |
| title_sort | serosurvey of i rickettsia i spp and i ehrlichia canis i in dogs from shelters in sicily southern italy |
| topic | <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. <i>Ehrlichia canis</i> dogs shelter One Health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/12/1119 |
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