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Canine babesiosis in Austria in the 21st century - A review of cases. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2023; 37:100820. [PMID: 36623901 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A retrospective study on 699 cases of canine babesiosis presented to veterinary clinics in eastern Austria were evaluated for the location where infection had presumably taken place. Of these, 542 (77.54%) had acquired the infection in Austria, while the majority of non-autochthonous cases came from neighboring countries, most notable Hungary. Both groups were recorded primarily in Vienna, eastern Lower Austria and Burgenland, but cases from the southern (Styria, Carinthia) and western (Upper Austria, Tyrol, Salzburg) provinces of the country were also recorded. Records were made all year round, with most cases in spring (46.6%) and fall (48.4%). The annual cases ranged from four to 58 (mean: 31.8) with large fluctuations and no visible trend for an in- or decrease. The tick vector of Babesia canis, Dermacentor reticulatus, is present in Austria but displays a very patchy distribution, and its occurrence and activity are not readily foretold, which might be a reason why its presumably increasing density in Europe is not reflected by increased incidences of canine babesiosis. Another factor that may influence the numbers of cases per year could be the application (or non-application) of acaricidal or repellent compounds. A limitation of this study is that bias is exerted by the location of the participating clinics, and by the unknown rate of infections that does not induce clinical symptoms and is likely not presented in veterinary practices and clinics. The data, however, clearly show that at least the lowlands of Austria are endemic for B. canis, and appropriate tick control must be advised all year round.
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Drehmann M, Springer A, Lindau A, Fachet K, Mai S, Thoma D, Schneider CR, Chitimia-Dobler L, Bröker M, Dobler G, Mackenstedt U, Strube C. The Spatial Distribution of Dermacentor Ticks (Ixodidae) in Germany-Evidence of a Continuing Spread of Dermacentor reticulatus. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:578220. [PMID: 33088837 PMCID: PMC7544815 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.578220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In Europe, two tick species of the genus Dermacentor occur, Dermacentor marginatus and Dermacentor reticulatus. When the spatial distribution of both species in Germany was studied comprehensively for the first time in 1976, D. marginatus populations were recorded along the Rhine and Main river valleys in southwestern Germany, while D. reticulatus was very rare. In the last 50 years, however, a considerable range expansion of D. reticulatus has been noted in several European countries. To assess the current distribution of Dermacentor spp. in Germany, citizens were asked to send in ticks suspected to belong to the genus Dermacentor or that were of “unusual” appearance. From February 2019 until February 2020, 3,902 Dermacentor ticks were received in total. Of those, 15.48% (604/3,902) were identified as D. marginatus and 84.24% (3,287/3,902) as D. reticulatus, while 11 specimens could not be identified to species level. The majority of D. reticulatus specimens was collected from dogs (1,212/2,535; 47.12%), while D. marginatus was mostly collected from horses (184/526; 34.98%). Our results confirm that the adults of both Dermacentor species are active all year round. D. reticulatus specimens were sent in from all federal states except the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, while D. marginatus specimens were only received from locations in southwestern Germany. Overall, data obtained from this citizen-science study show that D. reticulatus has significantly expanded its range, especially in northern Germany. Regarding D. marginatus, new locations northwest of the previous range were detected, although the distribution has remained rather stable as compared to D. reticulatus. The spread of D. reticulatus, the vector of Babesia canis, is of major importance for veterinarians and dog owners in terms of canine babesiosis outbreaks or endemization in hitherto B. canis-free areas. Thus, veterinarians and veterinary students need to be informed about the new situation to be able to give adequate advice to dog owners on the extended D. reticulatus range and appropriate control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Drehmann
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Alexander Lindau
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Katrin Fachet
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sabrina Mai
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Dorothea Thoma
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Carina R Schneider
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.,Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Gerhard Dobler
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.,Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Ute Mackenstedt
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
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Silaghi C, Weis L, Pfister K. Dermacentor reticulatus and Babesia canis in Bavaria (Germany)-A Georeferenced Field Study with Digital Habitat Characterization. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9070541. [PMID: 32645829 PMCID: PMC7400213 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9070541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The hard tick Dermacentor reticulatus transmits Babesia canis, the causative agent of canine babesiosis. Both the occurrence and local distribution of D. reticulatus as well as infection rates of questing ticks with B. canis are thus far poorly known in Bavaria, Germany. The objectives of this study were to conduct (1) a georeferenced field study on the occurrence of D. reticulatus with digital habitat characterization and (2) a PCR analysis of D. reticulatus collected in Bavaria for infection with B. canis. Dermacentor reticulatus were collected by flagging at 60 sites specifically selected according to habitat conditions and screened individually for Babesia DNA. A digital habitat characterization for D. reticulatus was performed according to results of the field analysis including the parameters land use, proximity to water, “potential natural vegetation”, red deer corridors and climate data. Altogether, 339 D. reticulatus ticks (214 females and 125 males) were collected between 2010 and 2013 at 12 out of 60 sampling sites. All 12 sites were characterized by high humidity with marshy areas. Babesia canis DNA was detected in 1 out of 301 (0.3%) questing D. reticulatus in Bavaria. The digital habitat characterization revealed 15 forest areas in Bavaria with similar ecological characteristics as the sites positive for D. reticulatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Silaghi
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80802 Munich, Germany; (L.W.); (K.P.)
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald Isle of Riems, 17493 Greifswald, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-3835171172
| | - Lisa Weis
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80802 Munich, Germany; (L.W.); (K.P.)
| | - Kurt Pfister
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80802 Munich, Germany; (L.W.); (K.P.)
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