Epidemiology of Vector-Borne Pathogens Among U.S. Government Working Dogs

Alyssa C Meyers; Lisa Auckland; Hannah F Meyers; Carlos A Rodriguez; Eric Kontowicz; Christine A Petersen; Bruno L Travi; John P Sanders; Sarah A Hamer

doi:10.1089/vbz.2020.2725

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Epidemiology of Vector-Borne Pathogens Among U.S. Government Working Dogs

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Epidemiology of Vector-Borne Pathogens Among U.S. Government Working Dogs

Alyssa C Meyers, Lisa Auckland, Hannah F Meyers, Carlos A Rodriguez, Eric Kontowicz, Christine A Petersen, Bruno L Travi, John P Sanders and Sarah A Hamer

Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.), Vol.21(5), pp.358-368

05/2021

DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2725

PMCID: PMC8086402

PMID: 33601954

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Abstract

Surveillance of U.S. domestic dogs for exposure to vector-borne pathogens can identify regions of transmission that are relevant for human and animal health. Working dogs with high levels of outdoor exposure may be sensitive indicators of local risk, owing to increased contact with vectors. We randomly selected 476 high-value government working dogs from 40 states to determine the prevalence of infection with and spp., and exposure to spp., spp., and , and identify risk factors for positivity. Additionally, we tested 100 of these dogs from Texas for spp. where sand fly vectors occur. Previously published infection data on these dogs were used to identify coinfection or co-exposures. Infection prevalence was 0.84% for , and all dogs were negative for spp. DNA. Seroprevalence of each pathogen was: 0.84%, spp. 1.3%, spp. 1.5%, spp. 2.0%, and 12.2%. Coinfection or co-exposure took place in four (0.84%) dogs. In bivariable analysis, we found that -positive and -seropositive dogs were significantly older than negative dogs ( < 0.05). Furthermore, seroprevalence of spp. was significantly higher among dogs in the Northeast United States relative to other areas of the country (4.7% vs. ≤1.4%; = 0.041). Although autochthonous infections have been described in the United States, the cases reported herein may represent imported infection. Most federal working dogs are bred in Europe, where the parasite is endemic and congenitally transmitted. Serological cross-reaction between and spp. complicates diagnosis. In this study, the use of multiple testing strategies in a comparative complementary manner provided evidence for these dogs' true exposures. Comprehensive surveillance for vector-borne pathogens in dogs can improve clinician awareness and target prevention and treatment in a One Health manner.

Anaplasma

Anaplasmosis - epidemiology

Animals

Borrelia burgdorferi

Dirofilaria immitis

Dirofilariasis - epidemiology

Dog Diseases - epidemiology

Dogs

Ehrlichiosis - epidemiology

Ehrlichiosis - veterinary

Government

Lyme Disease - epidemiology

Lyme Disease - veterinary

Seroepidemiologic Studies

United States - epidemiology

Working Dogs

Details

Title: Subtitle: Epidemiology of Vector-Borne Pathogens Among U.S. Government Working Dogs
Creators: Alyssa C Meyers - Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
Lisa Auckland - Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
Hannah F Meyers - Department of Chemistry, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
Carlos A Rodriguez - Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, Texas, USA
Eric Kontowicz - Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
Christine A Petersen - Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
Bruno L Travi - Department of Internal Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
John P Sanders - Office of Workforce Health and Safety, Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Sarah A Hamer - Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.), Vol.21(5), pp.358-368
DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2725
PMID: 33601954
PMCID: PMC8086402
NLM abbreviation: Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis
ISSN: 1530-3667
eISSN: 1557-7759
Language: English
Date published: 05/2021
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984214715102771

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