DVM Kyungpook national university Daegu, Taegu-jikhalsi, Republic of Korea
Abstract:
Background: Tick-borne infections are globally increasing due to the effects of climate change, trend mirrored in South Korea. Hypothesis/
Objectives: This retrospective study aims to determine the detection rate of 9 major tick-borne infectious disease pathogens using real-time PCR test in dogs and cats in South Korea.Animals6141 blood specimens from dogs and 682 blood specimens from cats with anemia or suspected tick-borne infections were analyzed.
Methods: Real-time PCR data submitted to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory for tick-borne infectious diseases testing in South Korean dogs and cats from January 2022 to September 2023 were extracted
Results: In dogs, the most common pathogen was Babesia gibsoni (17.99%, n = 1105). Hemotropic Mycoplasma (0.85%, n = 52), SFTS virus (0.64%, n = 39), Anaplasma spp. (0.59%, n = 36), Hepatozoon spp. (0.57%, n = 35), and Rickettsia spp. (0.07%, n = 4) were also detected. Leptospira spp., Bartonella spp., and Borrelia burgdorferi were not found. In cats, Hemotropic Mycoplasma (1.8%, n = 12) and SFTS virus (0.6%, n = 4) were the most common, while Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., and Hepatozoon spp. each had one case (0.1%, n = 1). Leptospira spp., Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., and Borrelia burgdorferi were not detected.Conclusion and clinical importanceProactive and continuous monitoring is essential for providing appropriate diagnosis and treatment in response to evolving infection trends.
