Imported and travelling dogs as carriers of canine vector-borne pathogens in Germany

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>With the import of pets and pets taken abroad, arthropod-borne diseases have increased in frequency in German veterinary practices. This is reflected by 4,681 dogs that have been either travelled to or relocated from endemic areas to Germany. The case history of these dogs and the laboratory findings have been compared with samples collected from 331 dogs living in an endemic area in Portugal. The various pathogens and the seroprevalences were examined to determine the occurrence of, and thus infection risk, for vector-borne pathogens in popular travel destinations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>4,681 dogs were examined serological for <it>Leishmania infantum, Babesia canis </it>and <it>Ehrlichia canis</it>. Buffy coats were detected for <it>Hepatozoon canis </it>and blood samples were examined for microfilariae via the Knott's test. The samples were sent in from animal welfare organizations or private persons via veterinary clinics. Upon individual requests, dogs were additionally examined serological for <it>Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi </it>and <it>Rickettsia conorii</it>. Overall <it>B. canis </it>was the most prevalent pathogen detected by antibody titers (23.4%), followed by <it>L. infantum </it>(12.2%) and <it>E. canis </it>(10.1%). Microfilariae were detected in 7.7% and <it>H. canis </it>in 2.7% of the examined dogs. In 332/1862 dogs <it>A. phagocytophilum</it>, in 64/212 <it>B. burgdorferi </it>and in 20/58 <it>R. conorii </it>was detected. Of the 4,681 dogs, in total 4,226 were imported to Germany from endemic areas. Eighty seven dogs joined their owners for a vacation abroad. In comparison to the laboratory data from Germany, we examined 331 dogs from Portugal. The prevalence of antibodies/pathogens we detected was: 62.8% to <it>R. conorii</it>, 58% to <it>B. canis</it>, 30.5% to <it>A. phagocytophilum</it>, 24.8% to <it>E. canis</it>, 21.1% to <it>H. canis </it>(via PCR), 9.1% to <it>L. infantum </it>and 5.3% to microfilariae.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The examination of 4,681 dogs living in Germany showed pathogens like <it>L. infantum </it>that are non-endemic in Germany. Furthermore, the German data are similar in terms of multiple pathogen infection to the data recorded for dogs from Portugal. Based on these findings the importation of dogs from endemic predominantly Mediterranean regions to Germany as well as travelling with dogs to these regions carries a significant risk of acquiring an infection. Thus we would conclude that pet owners seek advice of the veterinarians prior to importing a dog from an endemic area or travel to such areas. In general, it might be advisable to have a European recording system for translocation of dogs.</p

Endocrine changes during the annual reproductive cycle of the red porgy, Pagrus pagrus (Teleostei, Sparidae).

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Endocrine changes during the annual reproductive cycle of the red porgy, Pagrus pagrus (Teleostei, Sparidae).

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Seasonal variations and maturity stages in relation to differences in serum levels of gonadal steroids, vitellogenin and thyroid hormones in the common dentex (Dentex dentex).

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Recent advances in reproductional aspects of Pagrus pagrus

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Seasonal variations and maturity stages in relation to differences in serum levels of gonadal steroids, vitellogenin and thyroid hormones in the common dentex (Dentex dentex).

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MemoRob: Studying Robots Distractor Effects

International audienceMemoRob is a model about how to optimize the use of robots for learning. It is based on a list of each possible robotic source of distraction associated with its relevant effects according to its nature and to the target learning mode. While collecting the sources of distraction that the robotics literature provides, the instantiation method of pairing each source and each learning mode with the nature of the distraction as well as its distracting effects allows to consider how to remedy these effects of robotic distraction effects although still having the robotic input as a learning medium. In this article, we provide the motivations that led to the need for the MemoRob model, the list of sources and effects generated by the Human-Robot interaction that may interfere with learning situations, the learning modes described according to their processes and mechanisms and, finally, a set of predictions on whether a given robotic learning situations might promote attention or distraction

Recent advances in reproductional aspects of Pagrus pagrus

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MemoRob: étudier l’effet distracteur des robots

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