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Parasit Vectors 2019 Jan 28;12(1):64. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.

Background: Vector-borne pathogens are emerging concerns in multiple regions of Canada. Determining regional prevalence of canine vector-borne pathogens and documenting change will improve clinician awareness, enable targeted prevention, enhance diagnosis and ideally reduce the risk of disease. Study objectives were to: (i) estimate the prevalence of positive canine vector-borne test results from samples submitted in Canada; (ii) assess change in prevalence over time, from baseline (2008) to 2015; and (iii) estimate the prevalence of pathogen co-infections. Read More

Vet Med Sci 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

EA7310 BIOSCOPE, Laboratoire de Virologie, Université de Corse-Inserm, Corte, France.

Ehrlichiosis are severe, feverish tick-borne illnesses caused by specific species within the genus Ehrlichia (Anaplasmataceae family). Recent data suggest that ruminants in Corsica area reservoir for several Anaplasmataceae species. The purpose of our study was to determine whether Ehrlichia species could be detected in ticks collected in Corsican ruminants by using molecular methods. Read More

Korean J Parasitol 2018 Dec 31;56(6):559-565. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea.

The identification and characterization of pathogenic and zoonotic tick-borne diseases like granulocytic anaplasmosis are essential for developing effective control programs. The differential diagnosis of pathogenic Anaplasma phagocytophilum and non-pathogenic A. phagocytophilum-like Anaplasma spp. Read More

Vet Clin Pathol 2019 Jan 9. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, College Station, Texas.

An 8-year-old, neutered male, Golden Retriever presented for bilateral carpal joint effusion. A complete blood count revealed mild leukopenia and marked thrombocytopenia. Samples were sent to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory for blood smear review and serologic testing for tick-borne diseases. Read More

Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2019 Apr 17;8:45-49. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Instituto de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Las Cabañas y Los Reseros s/n (B1712WAA), Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Vector-borne pathogens are responsible for serious emerging diseases and have been widely described in wildlife. causes the zoonotic "monocytic ehrlichiosis" in humans, is transmitted by the tick and its reservoir host is the white-tailed deer () in North America. Little is known about the native reservoir and the tick vectors involved in the transmission cycle in South America. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2019 Jan 7;12(1):12. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France.

Background: Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) is the most widely distributed ixodid tick and is a vector of major canine and human pathogens. Read More

Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2019 Jan 19;207:1-9. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.

Since CD8 T cells play an important role in resistance to infection with heartwater, effective vaccines against this disease will likely require identification of antigens that contain CD8 T cell epitopes responsible for cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. With the use of the fluorescent antigen-transfected target cell (FATT)-CTL assay, IFN-γ ELISPOT and flow cytometry, peptides that induce CTL, proliferation of CD8 + T cells and IFN-γ production were identified as possible target antigens for vaccine development. Of particular relevance was the finding that different peptides from different antigens were able to elicit varied cytotoxic activities by immune peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from heartwater immune tick-infected sheep. Read More

Top Companion Anim Med 2018 Dec 13;33(4):114-118. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

Assay R&D, IDEXX Laboratories Inc, Westbrook, ME, USA. Electronic address:

Vector-borne agents comprise medically important infections affecting dogs throughout much of the world. Sensitive detection of antibodies directed at tick-borne disease-causing organisms in dogs is diagnostically important for veterinarians, pets and their owners, and epidemiologically important for public health surveillance. The SNAP 4Dx Plus Test (IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. Read More

Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019 02 13;10(2):344-351. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

United Graduate School of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Science, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan; Department of Virology 1, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.

Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne bacterial disease caused by pathogens of the Ehrlichia genus. Although human ehrlichiosis has not been reported in Japan, Ehrlichia spp., which are closely related to Ehrlichia chaffeensis, were detected in several species of ixodid ticks. Read More

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2018 Nov-Dec;51(6):843-847

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados , Dourados, MS, Brasil.

Introduction: Peripheral blood of 400 dogs infected with Leishmania and Ehrlichia were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and clinical signs were characterized.

Methods: PCR and parasitological tests were conducted.

Results: PCR was positive for Leishmania in 84. Read More

J Vet Intern Med 2019 Jan 29;33(1):158-166. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

Background: Vector-borne diseases have an adverse impact on health of dogs, and infected dogs can be sentinels for human infection. Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, an agent of Chagas disease, causes fatal heart disease in dogs across the southern United States but has been neglected from wide-scale prevalence studies.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of exposure to T. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2018 Nov 20;11(1):600. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Centre for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.

Background: Elucidating which wildlife species significantly contribute to the maintenance of Ixodes ricinus populations and the enzootic cycles of the pathogens they transmit is imperative in understanding the driving forces behind the emergence of tick-borne diseases. Here, we aimed to quantify the relative contribution of four mustelid species in the life-cycles of I. ricinus and Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) in forested areas and to investigate their role in the transmission of other tick-borne pathogens. Read More

Pol J Vet Sci 2018 Jun;21(2):415-417

Department of Genetics, University of Szczecin, Felczaka 3C, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland.

The bacterial species Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia helvetica are pathogenic for humans and domestic animals and are transmitted by ticks, e.g., of the Ixodes genus. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2018 Nov 12;11(1):585. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany.

Background: Vector-borne diseases constitute a major problem for veterinary and public health, especially in tropical regions like Central America. Domestic dogs may be infected with several vector-borne pathogens of zoonotic relevance, which may also severely compromise canine health.

Methods: To assess the prevalence of canine vector-borne diseases in Nicaragua, 329 dogs from seven cities, which were presented to the veterinarian for various reasons, were included in this study. Read More

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2018 Oct 17. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

1 Department of Internal Medicine and Inha University School of Medicine , Incheon, Republic of Korea.

Background: Bites with tick-borne pathogens can cause various bacterial, viral, or parasitic diseases in humans. Tick-transmitted diseases are known as contributing factors to the increasing incidence and burden of diseases. The present article investigated the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in South Korea. Read More

Onderstepoort J Vet Res 2018 Oct 9;85(1):e1-e5. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, University of Pretoria.

Canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis are important tick-borne infections in South Africa. Many South African general veterinary practitioners perceive co-infection with Ehrlichia spp. as a common occurrence in dogs with babesiosis. Read More

Prev Vet Med 2018 Nov 14;159:135-142. Epub 2018 Sep 14.

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Br 465, km 7, Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro, 23897-000, Brazil. Electronic address:

This cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study aims to investigate the epidemiology of Ehrlichia canis in healthy owned dogs from the Southeastern region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 390 households dogs. During the visits, an epidemiological questionnaire was filled out concerning the dogs' characteristics as well as the environments in which they lived. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Oct 2;2018. Epub 2018 Oct 2.

Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

Ehrlichiosis is a rare tickborne illness that can manifest from an asymptomatic, self-limiting disease to a severe presentation with encephalopathy and renal failure. Ehrlichiosis is diagnosed largely based on patient history with confirmatory tests including peripheral blood smear, serology and PCR. Empiric treatment is warranted in patients with suspected tick bites as a delay in treatment can result in multiorgan failure. Read More

Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019 01 17;10(1):115-123. Epub 2018 Sep 17.

Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, DK-5000, Odense C, Denmark; Department of Infectious diseases, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, DK-5000, Odense C, Denmark. Electronic address:

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a tick-transmitted flavivirus within the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) complex. The TBE complex is represented by both TBEV and louping ill virus (LIV) in Denmark. Anaplasma phagocytophilum is also transmitted by ticks and is believed to play an essential role in facilitating and aggravating LIV infection in sheep. Read More

Mo Med 2018 Jul-Aug;115(4):374-379

Deborah A. Hudman, MS, is in the Department of Microbiology/Immunology, A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine.

While the prevalence of human pathogens has been quantified in ticks in Adair County, Missouri, the prevalence of residents acquiring tick-borne diseases and seeking medical treatment has not. A public survey (n=109) revealed that 96% of respondents reported finding attached ticks on their person; of these, 38% developed symptoms post tick bite; of these, 55% reported consultation with a health care provider. Overall, 89% of practitioners surveyed had treated at least one patient for tick-borne disease. Read More

Microb Pathog 2018 Dec 11;125:183-188. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, 215123, China. Electronic address:

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), an increasingly recognized febrile tick-borne illness, is caused by a gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Because of nonspecific clinical manifestations, diagnosis of HGA highly depends on laboratory tests. Identification of immunoreactive proteins is prerequisite for development of specific and sensitive immunoassays for HGA. Read More

Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018 09 4;9(6):1437-1445. Epub 2018 Jul 4.

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

Tick-borne diseases cause significant losses to livestock production in tropical and subtropical regions. In Tanzania, detailed studies on tick-borne pathogens in cattle using sensitive molecular detection methods are scarce. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of Theileria spp. Read More

Kans J Med 2018 Aug 30;11(3):76-77. Epub 2018 Aug 30.

Department of Internal Medicine.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018 09 11;12(9):e0006722. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.

Background: Tick-borne zoonoses in the Order Rickettsiales and Legionellales cause infections that often manifest as undifferentiated fevers that are not easy to distinguish from other causes of acute febrile illnesses clinically. This is partly attributed to difficulty in laboratory confirmation since convalescent sera, specific diagnostic reagents, and the required expertise may not be readily available. As a result, a number of tick-borne zoonoses are underappreciated resulting in unnecessary morbidity, mortality and huge economic loses. Read More

Parasitol Res 2018 Nov 3;117(11):3557-3566. Epub 2018 Sep 3.

Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Wien, Austria.

Ticks are cosmopolitan vectors of numerous diseases, and detection of various pathogens in ticks can help to assess their distribution. In the current study, 528 adult ticks were collected from grazing animals or the ground in ten different Mongolian provinces. Dermacentor nuttalli constituted 76. Read More

Prim Care 2018 Sep 9;45(3):379-391. Epub 2018 Jul 9.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road S, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.

Close interaction with nature can lead to tick-borne illnesses, which are seen most frequently in primary care clinics when patients present symptoms. Considerable morbidity can result from untreated infections. Fortunately, these illnesses are often easily managed when diagnosed early. Read More

PLoS Pathog 2018 08 6;14(8):e1007234. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, United States of America.

Type I interferons (IFNα/β) regulate diverse aspects of host defense, but their impact on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSC/HSPCs) during infection remains unclear. Hematologic impairment can occur in severe infections, thus we sought to investigate the impact of type I IFNs on hematopoiesis in a tick-borne infection with a virulent ehrlichial pathogen that causes shock-like disease. During infection, IFNα/β induced severe bone marrow (BM) loss, blunted infection-induced emergency myelopoiesis, and reduced phenotypic HSPCs and HSCs. Read More

Exp Appl Acarol 2018 Aug 2;75(4):429-435. Epub 2018 Aug 2.

Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis are of serious health concern worldwide for animals and humans. In the present study, we report the occurrence of Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis in dogs and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l. Read More

Parasitol Res 2018 Nov 31;117(11):3407-3412. Epub 2018 Jul 31.

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan.

Dogs can carry and share zoonotic pathogens with humans. This problem is understudied in different parts of the world, including Jordan. This study determined the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, Dirofilaria immitis, and Borrelia burgdorferi using the SNAP 4Dx Plus test and spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) using enzyme immunoassay IgG test in different types of dogs (farm/breeding, police, and stray) in Jordan. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Jul 3;2018. Epub 2018 Jul 3.

Department of Internal Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

We report a case of a 27-year-old man with a history of untreated HIV who presented with fever, rash and leg cramps. Initial suspicion was high for an infectious process; however, after an exhaustive evaluation, thyrotoxicosis was revealed as the aetiology of his symptoms. Recent intravenous contrast administration complicated his workup to determine the exact cause of hyperthyroidism. Read More

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2018 11 3;18(11):588-594. Epub 2018 Jul 3.

4 Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Medical Academy , Sofia, Bulgaria .

Lyme Borreliosis and granulocytic anaplasmosis are less extensively studied in horses than in dogs and humans. Equine ehrlichiosis is not known in Europe and is in the initial stage of investigation in South, Central, and North America. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of these infections in Bulgaria. Read More

Parasitol Int 2018 Dec 27;67(6):679-683. Epub 2018 Jun 27.

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

Theileriosis and ehrlichiosis are two important tick-borne diseases affecting cattle farming in China. However, limited information is available regarding prevalence and molecular characterization of Theileria annulata and Ehrlichia ruminantium in cattle in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), northwestern China. In this study, a total of 176 blood samples of cattle from three rural areas of XUAR were collected in June 2017 and were tested by nested-PCR. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2018 Sep 14;37(9):1673-1678. Epub 2018 Jun 14.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.

The tick-borne bacterium Candidatus (Ca.) Neoehrlichia (N.) mikurensis is a cause of "fever of unknown origin" because this strict intracellular pathogen escapes detection by routine blood cultures. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Jun 18;8(1):9293. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.

Ehrlichia chaffeensis, a tick-transmitted rickettsial bacterium, is the causative agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis. Biochemical characterization of this and other related Rickettsiales remains a major challenge, as they require a host cell for their replication. We investigated the use of an axenic medium for E. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2018 Jun 18;11(1):350. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

ERBA Molecular, Bartholomew's Walk, Cambridgeshire Business Park, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4EA, UK.

Background: Ehrlichiosis is an important emerging infectious disease of the canid family and humans worldwide. To date, no extensive evaluation or validation of a molecular diagnostic test for ehrlichiosis has been published. Here, we present data for a newly designed TaqMan assay and compare its performance to a commercial technology (PCRun®). Read More

BMC Res Notes 2018 Jun 14;11(1):388. Epub 2018 Jun 14.

Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Buea, P. O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.

Objectives: Ehrlichia ruminantium infection (heartwater) is a major constraint that impacts negatively on the cattle industry development in sub-Saharan Africa and so far, little is known of the presence of heartwater in cattle in Cameroon. This study sought to investigate the prevalence of E. ruminantium infection in cattle in Cameroon and to determine the predictors of infection. Read More

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2018 10 13;18(10):563-566. Epub 2018 Jun 13.

2 State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology , Beijing, P.R. China .

Background: Rare investigation on tick-borne pathogens was carried out in Yunnan, China. In this study, we did a survey on Ehrlichia infection in small mammals and ticks. A total of 40 small mammals and 49 ticks were collected from Tengchong, Yunnan province. Read More

Infect Genet Evol 2018 Sep 28;63:116-125. Epub 2018 May 28.

Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand; Excellence Center in Veterinary Bioscience, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand. Electronic address:

Ehrlichia canis is the causative agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME). While there is a high prevalence of CME in Thailand, genetic diversity of E. canis is still poorly defined. Read More

Vet Med Sci 2018 05 7;4(2):126-132. Epub 2018 Feb 7.

Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Zoology Division, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by an intracellular alpha-proteobacterium, Ehrlichia canis, which replicates within mononuclear cells in the host. This study was designed to use a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol for the molecular detection of E. canis by the amplification of a portion of its 16S rRNA gene, as well as the effects of this alpha-proteobacterium on the haematological parameters of the sampled dogs and the risk factors associated with E. Read More

N Engl J Med 2018 May;378(21):2023-2029

From the Departments of Medicine (K.J.K., A.A.W.) and Pathology (J.A.B.), Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Departments of Medicine (K.J.K., A.A.W.) and Pathology (J.A.B.), Harvard Medical School - both in Boston.

Parasitol Res 2018 Jul 18;117(7):2291-2298. Epub 2018 May 18.

Departamento de Biomedicina y Biotecnología, Laboratorio de Parasitología, Grupo ECOMYP, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Alcalá, 28805, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.

Wildlife species are involved in the transmission of diverse pathogens. This study aimed to monitor raccoons (Procyon lotor), American minks (Neovison vison), and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) as potential reservoirs in central Spain. Specifically, 200 spleen and fecal samples (from 194 raccoons, 3 minks, and 3 foxes) were analyzed molecularly by PCR/qPCR and sequencing for the presence of piroplasmids, Hepatozoon spp. Read More

J Vet Intern Med 2018 Jul 27;32(4):1334-1342. Epub 2018 Apr 27.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, CO.

Background: Ehrlichia canis infection in dogs can cause thrombocytopenia and clinical evidence of bleeding. It is unknown why some dogs show signs of bleeding whereas others do not despite clinically relevant thrombocytopenia.

Hypothesis/objectives: Activated platelets, decreased fibrinolysis or both mitigate bleeding tendency. Read More

Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018 07 12;9(5):1098-1102. Epub 2018 Apr 12.

Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway; University College of Southeast Norway, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Gullbringveien 38, NO-3800 Boe, Norway.

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens of medical importance in questing ticks collected from five recreationally used islands along the Norwegian coastline. Furthermore, since coinfection may affect the disease severity, this study aimed to determine the extent of coinfection in individual ticks or co-localization of tick-borne pathogens. In all, 4158 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks were analyzed. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Apr 18;8(1):6162. Epub 2018 Apr 18.

Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, 66506, USA.

The rickettsial pathogen Ehrlichia chaffeensis causes a tick-borne disease, human monocytic ehrlichiosis. Mutations within certain genomic locations of the pathogen aid in understanding the pathogenesis and in developing attenuated vaccines. Our previous studies demonstrated that mutations in different genomic sites in E. Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2018 Aug 7;20(4):e12899. Epub 2018 May 7.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.

We present a case of possible transfusion-transmitted Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection in a heavily transfused cord blood transplant recipient, resulting in severe infection and graft loss. Transfusion-transmitted, vector-borne infections in immunocompromised individuals can have severe consequences, and should be considered in hospitalized patients receiving blood products with unexplained fever or sepsis. Read More

Acta Parasitol 2018 Jun;63(2):412-415

Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China.

Despite the fact vector-borne diseases (VBDs) have been increasingly reported in dogs worldwide, there are only limited reports on VBDs in dogs in China with most being based on molecular detection of active infections. To provide further data on the exposure of dogs in China to VBD agents, we used commercial immunochromatographic assays to test plasma from 637 apparently healthy indoor and breeding colony dogs from 21 veterinary clinics in 10 provinces in China and a commercial dog breeding facility for circulating antigen of Dirofilaria immitis, and for circulating antibodies against Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2018 04 12;11(1):238. Epub 2018 Apr 12.

Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.

Background: Various tick-borne infections often occur without specific clinical signs and are therefore notoriously hard to diagnose separately in veterinary practice. Longitudinal studies over multiple tick seasons performing clinical, serological and molecular investigations in parallel, may elucidate the relationship between infection and disease. In this regard, six related Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs living as a pack became subject of lifetime studies due to ongoing tick infestations and recurring clinical problems. Read More

PLoS One 2018 11;13(4):e0194891. Epub 2018 Apr 11.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.

Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the causative agent of human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis, secretes several effector proteins that bind host DNA to modulate host gene expression. The tandem repeat protein 120 (TRP120), one of the largest effector proteins, has four nearly identical tandem repeat (TR) regions that each consists of 80 amino acids. In addition to playing a role in ehrlichial binding and internalization, TRP120 translocates to the host nucleus where it is thought to function as a transcription factor that modulates gene expression. Read More

Vet Ital 2018 Mar;54(1):73-78

Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy.

Anaplasma and Ehrlichia spp. are tick-transmitted bacteria of clinical relevance in European dogs. The diagnosis of infection is often difficult due to the wide spectrum of disease caused by them. Read More