Journal of Veterinary Science

The Korean Society of Veterinary Science (대한수의학회)
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Serological evidence of Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi and Ehrlichia canis in dogs from the Republic of Korea by rapid diagnostic test kits

  • Miranda, Evelyn Alejandra (Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 FOUR Future Veterinary Medicine Leading Education and Research Center, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Han, Sun-Woo (Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 FOUR Future Veterinary Medicine Leading Education and Research Center, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Rim, Ji-Min (Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 FOUR Future Veterinary Medicine Leading Education and Research Center, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Cho, Yoon-Kyoung (Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 FOUR Future Veterinary Medicine Leading Education and Research Center, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Choi, Kyoung-Seong (College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University) ;
  • Chae, Joon-Seok (Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 FOUR Future Veterinary Medicine Leading Education and Research Center, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2021.07.28
  • Accepted : 2021.12.05
  • Published : 2022.03.31
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Abstract

Background: Emergent and re-emergent canine tick-borne infections are attracting increasing attention worldwide. The rise in pet ownership and the close relationship between dogs and their owners are the most concerning factors because dogs may act as competent reservoirs for human tick-transmitted infectious agents. Objectives: This study contributes to the epidemiological surveillance of canine tick-transmitted infections with zoonotic risk in the Republic of Korea (ROK) by investigating the seroprevalence of the pathogens, Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi, and Ehrlichia canis. Methods: Four hundred and thirty whole blood samples from domestic dogs were collected in seven metropolitan cities and nine provinces in the ROK and tested using SensPERT Ab test kits (VetAll Laboratories®) to detect seroreactive animals. Results: The seroprevalence rates identified were 9.8% (42/430) for Anaplasma spp., 2.8% (12/430) for B. burgdorferi, and 1.4% (6/430) for E. canis. The risk factors evaluated in this study that could be associated with the development of a humoral immune response, such as sex, age, and history of tick exposure, were similar. There was only one exception for dogs seroreactive to Anaplasma spp., where the risk factor "tick exposure" was statistically significant (p = 0.047). Conclusions: This serological survey exhibited the widespread presence of Anaplasma spp., B. burgdorferi, and E. canis throughout the ROK. Hence, dogs may play a key role as the sentinel animals of multiple zoonotic infectious agents in the country.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank VetAll Laboratories® for providing the SensPERT Ab Test Kits for this study. Evelyn Alejandra Miranda expresses her deep gratitude to the National Institute of International Education (NIIED) and the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) program for the scholarship granted for her graduate studies for 2018-2021.

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