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Updated: Jun 6, 2025
Author Spotlight: Coproparasitoscopic Examination of Dog Stools for Control and Prevention of Zoonotic Parasite Diseases
Published on: December 15, 2023
Exploring tick-borne pathogens in community dogs in Nepal
Gita Sadaula Pandey1, Chet Raj Pathak2, Sunil Thapa2
1Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan; National Cattle Research Program, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal.
Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) like Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys are prevalent in Nepalese dogs. This highlights potential risks to pets and humans, emphasizing the need for surveillance and control of these zoonotic diseases.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) pose significant global health risks, with zoonotic potential often overlooked in developing nations due to insufficient surveillance.
- Community dogs serve as potential reservoirs for TBPs, impacting companion animals and human health in shared environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of six key TBPs (Babesia, Theileria, Hepatozoon, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia) in community dogs in Lumbini and the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.
- To assess the prevalence of single and co-infections with these TBPs and identify potential associations with geographical location.
Main Methods:
- Molecular detection of TBPs in blood samples from 230 community dogs across two study sites in Nepal.
- Analysis of infection rates for specific pathogens including Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Babesia vogeli, and Babesia gibsoni.
Main Results:
- A total of 32.6% of dogs were infected with at least one TBP; 4.7% had co-infections.
- Prevalence rates were: Ehrlichia canis (13.9%), Anaplasma platys (9.1%), Babesia vogeli (8.6%), and Babesia gibsoni (6.5%).
- Theileria, Hepatozoon, and Rickettsia were not detected. Significant associations were found between A. platys and E. canis infections and sampling locations.
Conclusions:
- Tick-borne pathogens, particularly E. canis and A. platys, are prevalent in community dogs in Nepal, indicating a potential source for onward transmission.
- The findings underscore the need for enhanced surveillance and control strategies for TBPs in Nepal, considering their zoonotic implications.
- Further research is recommended to explore TBP diversity and prevalence in other regions of Nepal to inform public health interventions.
