Molecular prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Coxiella burnetii in dogs and associated ticks in Egypt: Emerging One Health challenging zoonoses

Background and Aim: Tick-borne pathogens pose a significant problem in canines, other animals, and humans worldwide. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Coxiella burnetii in dogs and associated ticks in Egypt. Materials and Methods: Blood sam...

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Main Authors: Zeinab S. Ahmed, Nada Hesham, Taher M. Abdelhamid, Mahmoud E. Hashad, Hossam Mahmoud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Veterinary World 2024-11-01
Series:Veterinary World
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Online Access:https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.17/November-2024/18.pdf
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author Zeinab S. Ahmed
Nada Hesham
Taher M. Abdelhamid
Mahmoud E. Hashad
Hossam Mahmoud
author_facet Zeinab S. Ahmed
Nada Hesham
Taher M. Abdelhamid
Mahmoud E. Hashad
Hossam Mahmoud
author_sort Zeinab S. Ahmed
collection DOAJ
description Background and Aim: Tick-borne pathogens pose a significant problem in canines, other animals, and humans worldwide. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Coxiella burnetii in dogs and associated ticks in Egypt. Materials and Methods: Blood samples from 110 tick-infested dogs and 550 whole ticks (divided into 110 pools) were collected and tested for the targeted pathogens using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Of the 110 dog blood samples, B. burgdorferi DNA was detected in three samples, E. canis in six samples, and C. burnetii in one kenneled dog. Among the 110 tick pools, B. burgdorferi was detected in four pools, E. canis in 12 pools, and C. burnetii in three pools from kenneled dogs. The overall prevalence of the three agents in dog and tick samples were 3.18%, 8.18%, and 1.81%, respectively. Simultaneous positive PCR reactions in both dogs and their associated tick pools were observed in four cases. B. burgdorferi and E. canis were simultaneously detected in two dogs and two tick pools, whereas C. burnetii was detected in one dog but not in any tick pools. The three agents were simultaneously detected in one dog, but none were found in the corresponding tick pools. A mixed infection of C. burnetii and B. burgdorferi was observed in one dog and one tick pool. Conclusion: Molecular diagnosis is the most reliable method for detecting B. burgdorferi, E. canis, and C. burnetii in dogs and associated ticks. E. canis showed the highest prevalence in both dog and tick samples followed by B. burgdorferi while C. burnetti showed the lowest prevalence. The potential transmission of these diseases from companion dogs to humans through ticks presents a significant challenge for the One Health concept.
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spelling doaj-art-4e820a68cd2443f7bff20884e948fc4e2025-08-20T02:20:58ZengVeterinary WorldVeterinary World0972-89882231-09162024-11-0117112586259410.14202/vetworld.2024.2586-2594Molecular prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Coxiella burnetii in dogs and associated ticks in Egypt: Emerging One Health challenging zoonosesZeinab S. Ahmed0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2013-3460Nada Hesham1Taher M. Abdelhamid2Mahmoud E. Hashad3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8630-3325Hossam Mahmoud4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1866-4978Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Hospital, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.Background and Aim: Tick-borne pathogens pose a significant problem in canines, other animals, and humans worldwide. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Coxiella burnetii in dogs and associated ticks in Egypt. Materials and Methods: Blood samples from 110 tick-infested dogs and 550 whole ticks (divided into 110 pools) were collected and tested for the targeted pathogens using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Of the 110 dog blood samples, B. burgdorferi DNA was detected in three samples, E. canis in six samples, and C. burnetii in one kenneled dog. Among the 110 tick pools, B. burgdorferi was detected in four pools, E. canis in 12 pools, and C. burnetii in three pools from kenneled dogs. The overall prevalence of the three agents in dog and tick samples were 3.18%, 8.18%, and 1.81%, respectively. Simultaneous positive PCR reactions in both dogs and their associated tick pools were observed in four cases. B. burgdorferi and E. canis were simultaneously detected in two dogs and two tick pools, whereas C. burnetii was detected in one dog but not in any tick pools. The three agents were simultaneously detected in one dog, but none were found in the corresponding tick pools. A mixed infection of C. burnetii and B. burgdorferi was observed in one dog and one tick pool. Conclusion: Molecular diagnosis is the most reliable method for detecting B. burgdorferi, E. canis, and C. burnetii in dogs and associated ticks. E. canis showed the highest prevalence in both dog and tick samples followed by B. burgdorferi while C. burnetti showed the lowest prevalence. The potential transmission of these diseases from companion dogs to humans through ticks presents a significant challenge for the One Health concept.https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.17/November-2024/18.pdfborreliosiscoxillosisehrlichiosispetsrhipicephalus
spellingShingle Zeinab S. Ahmed
Nada Hesham
Taher M. Abdelhamid
Mahmoud E. Hashad
Hossam Mahmoud
Molecular prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Coxiella burnetii in dogs and associated ticks in Egypt: Emerging One Health challenging zoonoses
Veterinary World
borreliosis
coxillosis
ehrlichiosis
pets
rhipicephalus
title Molecular prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Coxiella burnetii in dogs and associated ticks in Egypt: Emerging One Health challenging zoonoses
title_full Molecular prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Coxiella burnetii in dogs and associated ticks in Egypt: Emerging One Health challenging zoonoses
title_fullStr Molecular prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Coxiella burnetii in dogs and associated ticks in Egypt: Emerging One Health challenging zoonoses
title_full_unstemmed Molecular prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Coxiella burnetii in dogs and associated ticks in Egypt: Emerging One Health challenging zoonoses
title_short Molecular prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Coxiella burnetii in dogs and associated ticks in Egypt: Emerging One Health challenging zoonoses
title_sort molecular prevalence of borrelia burgdorferi ehrlichia canis and coxiella burnetii in dogs and associated ticks in egypt emerging one health challenging zoonoses
topic borreliosis
coxillosis
ehrlichiosis
pets
rhipicephalus
url https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.17/November-2024/18.pdf
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