Hepatozoon canis in three imported dogs: a new tickborne disease reaching the United Kingdom

Attipa, C; Maguire, D; Solano-Gallego, L; Szladovits, B; Barker, E N; Farr, A; Baneth, G; Tasker, S

Abstract

An increasing number of non-endemic vectorborne pathogens have been described in dogs imported to the UK in the past two decades. Recently, an outbreak of canine babesiosis in south-east England has raised veterinary awareness with regard to the impact of such diseases on the UK canine population. Canine hepatozoonosis, caused by Hepatozoon canis and transmitted by the ingestion of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks, is widespread in the Mediterranean basin. Herein we describe the first three molecularly confirmed clinical cases of canine hepatozoonosis in dogs imported into the UK. Veterinarians in the UK should be aware of H canis as a potential infection in imported dogs, especially in the face of the expanding distribution of R sanguineus ticks in Europe.

Citation

Attipa, C., Maguire, D., Solano-Gallego, L., Szladovits, B., Barker, E. N., Farr, A., Baneth, G., & Tasker, S. (2018). Hepatozoon canis in three imported dogs: a new tickborne disease reaching the United Kingdom. Veterinary Record, 183(716), https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105087

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 2, 2018
• Publication Date: Nov 21, 2018
• Deposit Date: Dec 13, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 14, 2019
• Journal: VETERINARY RECORD
• Print ISSN: 0042-4900
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 183
• Issue: 716
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105087
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1385092