Infectious diseases in dogs rescued during dogfighting investigations
| Autor: | P.C. Crawford, Christian M. Leutenegger, R. Chandrashekar, Julie Levy, S.H. Cannon, Jonathan J. Shuster, Jiayou Liu, S.K. Kirk |
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| Rok vydání: | 2015 |
| Předmět: |
Male
040301 veterinary sciences Anemia 030231 tropical medicine Dirofilaria immitis Biology Communicable Diseases Polymerase Chain Reaction Article Serology 0403 veterinary science 03 medical and health sciences Feces 0302 clinical medicine Dogs Species Specificity medicine Prevalence Animals Serologic Tests Dog Diseases Mass screening General Veterinary Babesia gibsoni Transmission (medicine) 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences biology.organism_classification medicine.disease Dog bite Texas Southeastern United States Ancylostoma Hematocrit Immunology Animal Science and Zoology Female |
| Zdroj: | Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997). 211 |
| ISSN: | 1532-2971 |
| Popis: | Dogs used for dogfighting often receive minimal preventive health care, and the potential for spread of infectious diseases is high. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of infectious diseases in dogs rescued from fighting operations to guide medical protocols for their immediate and long-term care. A total of 269 pit bull-type dogs were seized in a multi-state investigation. Fleas were present on most dogs, but few ticks were observed. Testing performed at intake included packed cell volume (PCV), serology and PCR for vector-borne pathogens, and fecal analysis. The most common infections were Babesia gibsoni (39%), 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum' (32%), Mycoplasma haemocanis (30%), Dirofilaria immitis (12%), and Ancylostoma (23%). Anemia was associated with B. gibsoni infection (63% of infected dogs, odds ratio = 2.5, P 0.001), but not with hemotropic mycoplasmas or Ancylostoma. Pit bull heritage and dogfighting are known risk factors for B. gibsoni infection, possibly via blood transmission from bites and vertical transmission. Hemotropic mycoplasmas have a similar risk pattern. Empirical care for dogs from dogfighting cases should include broad-spectrum internal and external parasiticides and monitoring for anemia. Dogfighting case responders should be prepared for mass screening and treatment of B. gibsoni and heartworm infections and should implement protocols to prevent transmission of infectious and zoonotic diseases in the shelter and following adoption. Former fighting dogs and dogs with possible dog bite scars should not be used as blood donors due to the risk of vector-borne pathogens that can escape detection and for which curative treatment is difficult to document. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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