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Spatial distribution of seroprevalence for Anaplasma phagocytophilum , Borrelia burgdorferi , Ehrlichia canis , and Dirofilaria immitis in dogs in Washington, Oregon, and California
Author(s) -
Carrade Danielle,
Foley Janet,
Sullivan Michael,
Foley Colin W.,
Sykes Jane E.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
veterinary clinical pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.537
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1939-165X
pISSN - 0275-6382
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-165x.2011.00334.x
Subject(s) - anaplasma phagocytophilum , borrelia burgdorferi , ehrlichia canis , dirofilaria immitis , seroprevalence , ehrlichiosis , canis , anaplasma , veterinary medicine , biology , virology , medicine , tick , immunology , antibody , ecology , serology , helminths
Background: In the US little spatially defined information regarding exposure to most vector‐borne pathogens in dogs is available for the states of California (CA), Oregon (OR), and Washington (WA). Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the spatial distribution of seroprevalence for 4 vector‐borne pathogens, Anaplasma phagocytophilum , Borrelia burgdorferi , Ehrlichia canis , and Dirofilaria immitis , across the 3 western coastal states of the contiguous United States that extend from the northern Mexican to the southern Canadian border. Methods: A convenience sample, targeting blood from 20 pet dogs per county across CA, OR, and WA, was evaluated using a canine point‐of‐care ELISA kit. Geographic coordinates of home zip code were displayed using a geographic information system. A total of 2431 dogs from CA, OR, and WA were tested. Results: The overall seroprevalence was highest for A. phagocytophilum (2.4%), followed by B. burgdorferi (1.2%), and E. canis (0.7%). The prevalence of infection with D. immitis was 0.7%. At the individual dog level, there was a significant association between seropositivity to B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum (odds ratio=18.7, 95% confidence interval=6.8–47.1). For most positive results, prevalence tended to decrease with increasing latitude; thus, the highest rates of seropositivity occurred in CA, followed by OR, and then WA; one exception was seropositivity for B. burgdorferi , which was higher in WA (0.38%) than in OR (0.15%), but considerably lower than in CA (2.00%). In WA, dogs that tested positive for A. phagocytophilum , E. canis , and B. burgdorferi were in the southern Puget Sound area. For D. immitis , none of the dogs in WA was positive. Conclusions: Seropositivity for vector‐borne pathogens is broadly but patchily distributed in dogs in CA, OR, and WA.