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Seroprevalence of spotted fever group Rickettsiae in dogs in Germany.

Abstract
Tick-transmitted spotted fever group Rickettsiae (SFGR) are considered emerging disease pathogens in Europe. To assess the situation in Germany, a seroepidemiologic survey of dogs (n=605, which have never left Germany) was conducted to determine the prevalence of antibodies to SFGR. For this purpose, a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for all SFGR was used. A total of 78% of the dogs were positive for antibodies of the SFGR, and there was a positive correlation between age, tick-infestation, and seropositivity. There was no correlation between clinical state, location, and seropositivity, suggesting that infection with rickettsia is neither related to the health condition of the dogs nor to their abode in Germany. According to our results, all of Germany can be considered as an endemic area for SFGR. This should be taken into account when assessing the epidemiology of human rickettsioses and their impact on public health.
AuthorsMiriam Wächter, Martin Pfeffer, Nicole Schulz, Anneliese Balling, Aleksandra Chirek, Jan-Peter Bach, Andreas Moritz, Barbara Kohn, Stefan Pachnicke, Cornelia Silaghi
JournalVector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.) (Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis) Vol. 15 Issue 3 Pg. 191-4 (Mar 2015) ISSN: 1557-7759 [Electronic] United States
PMID25793474 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Topics
  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Dog Diseases (blood, epidemiology, microbiology)
  • Dogs
  • Germany (epidemiology)
  • Humans
  • Rickettsia (classification, isolation & purification)
  • Rickettsia Infections (blood, epidemiology, microbiology, veterinary)
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Tick-Borne Diseases (epidemiology, microbiology, veterinary)
  • Zoonoses

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