Serological detection of antibodies to Ehrlichia canis and Borrelia burgdorferi S.L. in urban household dogs from Iași

Abstract

Canine tick-borne diseases are an emerging problem within Romania and also throughout the European Countries. This threat comes not just from Lyme disease which is endemic in our country, but also from other tick-borne diseases as well as ehrlichiosis. The present study consisted in screening of IgG class antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi and Ehrlichia canis on 92 urban household dogs (48 females and 44 males) from Iași. The sampling took place during March to June 2021, in three veterinary clinics. The results of the serological testing revealed four positive dogs: one for IgG anti-E. canis and three for IgG anti-Borrelia burgdoferi s.l. Although the proportion of the sampled dog sex was almost equal, all positive animals were adult females. Our results highlight the silent circulation of the two pathogens in the studied area. These tick-borne pathogens are a significant medical concern to canine health. Changing tick distributions, pet travel and nonspecific clinical signs can make identifying infected pets challenging, so is very important to keep all dogs on appropriate, effective tick prevention year-round.