Dog blood parasite infection in upland and lowland communities of northern Thailand: The role of environment and care of dog owners
Issued Date
2024-06-01
Resource Type
eISSN
24059390
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85190548048
Journal Title
Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports
Volume
51
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports Vol.51 (2024)
Suggested Citation
Paladsing Y., Khanh B.M.T., Thinphovong C., Ketwang S., Chaisiri K., Carcy B., De Garine-Wichatitsky M., Morand S., Inpankaew T., Kritiyakan A. Dog blood parasite infection in upland and lowland communities of northern Thailand: The role of environment and care of dog owners. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports Vol.51 (2024). doi:10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101024 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/98076
Title
Dog blood parasite infection in upland and lowland communities of northern Thailand: The role of environment and care of dog owners
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Dogs play an important role as hosts and reservoirs for many zoonotic diseases. Ehrlichiosis, babesiosis and hepatozoonosis are a group of canine vector-borne diseases that can be transmitted via ectoparasites from dog to dog and also from dog to humans. This study focused on three main blood parasites of dog (i.e., Babesia spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Hepatozoon spp.) among two different landscape types of eight villages of Santhong Sub-district, Nan Province, Thailand. In this study, 149 dogs were surveyed and blood samples were collected. Blood parasite infections in dogs were assessed using molecular detection approach. Babesia canis vogeli, Babesia gibsoni, Ehrlichia canis and Hepatozoon canis were detected with prevalence of infection at 10.7%, 8.1%, 3.4% and 0.7%, respectively. In terms of landscape type, prevalence of overall blood parasites, particularly Babesia spp. infections were higher in dogs living in upland forested areas (28.3%) compared to dogs from lowland agricultural areas (12.3%). Data obtained from the questionnaires on perceptions of dog owners showed that dogs raised all the time outside owner's house, and those dogs whose owners have never bathed and cleaned were more likely to be exposed to blood parasites. As infected dogs could play an important role as reservoirs of the blood parasites, attitude of dog owners may affect public health in terms of zoonotic disease transmission. Effective control measures and surveillance program of arthropod vectors and blood parasite infection in dogs still need to be advocated to minimize zoonotic disease transmission.