1.Molecular detection, risk factors, and phylogenetic analysis of tick-borne pathogens in dogs from northern Vietnam
Do, T. ; Bui, K.L. ; Zafar, I. ; Inpankaew, T. ; Galon, M.E. ; Ta, P.A. ; Tran, K.T. ; Hasan, T. ; Shengwei, J. ; Ma, Z. ; Hang, L. ; Amer, M.M. ; Ma, Y. ; Mohanta, K.U. ; El Sayed, A.E.S. ; Xuan, X.
Tropical Biomedicine 2024;41(No.1):52-63
In tropical regions, numerous tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) play a crucial role as causative agents of
infectious diseases in humans and animals. Recently, the population of companion and pet dogs has
significantly increased in Vietnam; however, information on the occurrence of TBPs is still limited. The
objectives of this investigation were to determine the occurrence rate, risk factors, and phylogenetic
characteristics of TBPs in dogs from northern Vietnam. Of 341 blood samples tested by PCR, the total
infection of TBPs was 73.9% (252/341). Babesia vogeli (18SrRNA gene – 30.5%) was detected most
frequently in studied dogs followed by Rickettsia spp. (OmpA gene – 27%), Anaplasma platys (groEL
gene – 22%), Bartonella spp. (16SrRNA – 18.8%), Mycoplasma haemocanis (16SrRNA – 9.4%) and
Hepatozoon canis (18SrRNA gene – 1.2%), respectively. All samples were negative for Ehrlichia canis and
Anaplasma phagocytophylum. Co-infection was detected in 31.4% of the samples (107/341) of which,
A. platys/Bartonella spp. (34/94,10%), Rickettsia spp./B. vogeli (19/94, 5.6%), and M. haemocanis/B.
vogeli (19/94, 5.6%) were recorded as the three most frequent two species of co-infection types.
Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between TBP infection and several host variables
regarding age, breed, and living area in the current study. The recent findings reported herein, for the
first time in Vietnam, are essential for local veterinarians when considering the appropriate approaches
for diagnosing these diseases. Furthermore, this data can be used to establish control measures for
future surveillance and prevention strategies against canine TBPs in Vietnam.