EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CANINE GRANULOCYTIC ANAPLASMOSIS IN CENTRAL ITALY

Anaplasma phagocytophilum, an intracellular obligate Gram – bacterium, infects granulocytic neutrophils and eosinophils of several animal species, including humans. The transmission is maintained by the hard tick Ixodes ricinus and the canine species plays an important role of sentinel in the epidemiological circuit of the pathogen. Aim of the present work was to conduct a cross-sectional survey on the prevalence and potential risk factors linked to this infection in a randomly sampled canine population in Central Italy. Individually blood and serum samples were obtained from 240 dogs, asymptomatic at clinical examination, and used for stained blood smears, serological test (IFAT) for IgG and IgM detection and PCR. Univariata’s analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors statistically associated to serological positivity. The results showed a seropositivity by IgG IFAT (titers from 1/80 to 1/320) in no. 24 dogs (10%), confirmed by PCR only in 6 dogs. Stained blood smears resulted negative for the pathogen. The variables statistically associated (p< 0.05) consisted on: age (OR: 5.1 for > 10 years old), breed/attitude (OR: 2.14 guard dog and OR:2.43 hunting dog), use of spot-on and collars as prophylactic measures to prevent tick’s infestation (OR:0.2 and OR:0.32), usual habitat (OR: 4.14 for dogs maintained outdoor), any contact with wild-life animals (OR:0.29) and any travel through endemic areas (OR: 0.2). The data obtained (in Italy only 2 studies have been conducted on this topic) confirmed the possibility of using the canine population as epidemiological sentinel for this zoonotic pathogen’s monitoring.