Managing canine vector-borne diseases of zoonotic concern: part one

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2009.01.003

Trends in Parasitology

Volume 25, Issue 4, April 2009, Pages 157-163

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2009.01.003 Get rights and content

Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) comprise a group of globally distributed and rapidly spreading illnesses that are caused by a range of pathogens transmitted by arthropods including ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and phlebotomine sandflies. In addition to their veterinary importance, some CVBD-causing pathogens are of major zoonotic concern. Recent studies using sophisticated and advanced methodologies and technologies have provided new insights into the epidemiology of many CVBDs. This review is the first of two articles and focuses on the zoonotic relevance of CVBDs, the significance of co-infection and the role of infected but clinically healthy dogs in spreading different pathogens among human and canine populations.

Section snippets

Zoonotic relevance of canine vector-borne diseases

Parasitic arthropods (e.g. ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and phlebotomine sandflies) are efficient vectors of a large number of bacteria, viruses, protozoa and helminths affecting livestock, pets and humans worldwide. Globally, vector-borne diseases impact human and animal health and the global economy, representing approximately 17% of the burden of all infectious diseases and causing millions of dollars in losses to the livestock industry annually [1]. In recent years, there has been increasing

Two worlds, different priorities…

The increasing risk of vector-borne disease transmission worldwide has been attributed to several factors, including anthropogenic pressure on the environment (e.g. deforestation, irrigation, changes in land use and rapid urbanization [12]) and the changing dynamics of human, dog and vector populations. Indeed, these factors have impacted the biology and ecology of arthropod vectors in terms of reproduction rates, longevity, food consumption, and the period that is necessary for development and

Infected or diseased: the role of clinically healthy animals

The persistence of intracellular parasite burden and the development of clinical disease often depends on the balance between the cellular and humoral immune responses (orchestrated by the Th1/Th2 cytokine profile expression 26, 27), which could result in a complex epidemiological picture with a diverse range of clinical manifestations (from self-curing lesions to life-threatening visceral disease) in endemic areas. Certain organisms (e.g. L. infantum, E. canis, Bartonella vinsonii subsp.

Significance of co-infection

In areas where CVBDs are endemic, co-infection is a frequent event in dogs, particularly those living in an environment in which the vector population density is high. Depending upon the presence and abundance of arthropod vectors, dogs can be infected simultaneously or sequentially with a large number of vector-borne pathogens such as B. canis vogeli, Hepatozoon canis, E. canis, A. platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, Bartonella henselae, Borrelia burgdorferi, L.

Concluding remarks and future directions

In the past decades, advances in basic knowledge on several aspects of CVBDs have consistently increased by virtue of molecular technologies (e.g. real-time PCR and nucleotide sequencing), mathematical models, remote-sensing and geographical information systems and, also, increased research interest [45]. However, many relevant aspects of the pathogen–vector–host interface are still poorly understood. For example, studies have demonstrated that antigens present in the saliva of phlebotomine

Glossary

Co-infection: the simultaneous infection of a vertebrate or an arthropod host by more than one CVBD-causing pathogen. Co-infection is an event mainly linked to high vector-population density and pathogen circulation within an animal population.
Metazoonosis: an infection caused by a pathogen (e.g. some Leishmania spp.) that can be transmitted from dogs to humans via an arthropod vector.
Non-clinical animals (or clinically healthy animals or healthy infected dogs): animals infected by one or more

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Trends in Parasitology

ReviewManaging canine vector-borne diseases of zoonotic concern: part one

Section snippets

Zoonotic relevance of canine vector-borne diseases

Two worlds, different priorities…

Infected or diseased: the role of clinically healthy animals

Significance of co-infection

Concluding remarks and future directions

Glossary

Int. J. Med. Microbiol.

Int. J. Med. Microbiol.

Lancet

Arch. Med. Res.

Trends Parasitol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Trends Parasitol.

Trends Parasitol.

Microbes Infect.

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Curr. Opin. Immunol.

Vet. Parasitol.

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Vet. Parasitol.

Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol.

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Vaccine

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Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg.

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Exp. Parasitol.

Changing history

Alarm bells ringing: more of the same, and new and novel diseases and pests

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Vet. Rec.

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Review
Managing canine vector-borne diseases of zoonotic concern: part one