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Serological evidence of tick borne encephalitis virus infections in dogs in Croatia – importance for the veterinary meicine and public health

Tick borne encephalitis (TBE) is disease caused by tick borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) belonging to genus Flavivirus, transmitted by Ixodes ricinus ticks. In human patients TBE is biphasic disease that starts with fever and could end with neurological signs and severe meningoencephalitis. Continental parts of Croatia represent an endemic area with the incidence of human clinical cases from 0.2 to 1.90 per 105 inhabitants. Dogs as very popular pets live in the close relationship with humans and could represent sentinel animal species of TBEV infection risk for humans, especially in urban area. The aim of this study was to estimate the exposure of dogs in urban areas to TBEV and its possible correlation with human risk areas in Croatia. Four Croatian cities were screened for the presence of anti-TBEV IgG antibodies in the dog population. Blood samples were collected from six different Veterinary Clinics and the Central Laboratory of the Internal Diseases Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb, between June and December 2016. Anti-TBE IgG antibody concentrations were determined using Immunozym FSME IgG all-species ELISA kit (Progen Biotechnik GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany). Total of 356 dog sera samples were tested and thirteen samples yielded positive result (3.65 %). Concentration of IgG antibodies in positive samples was in the range from 148 VIEU/ml to 252 VIEU/ml and one sample was above the range of quantitation. The largest number of positive dogs was found in the area of Slavonski Brod with nine detected cases, followed with four detected cases in Bjelovar city area. High prevalence of anti-TBE IgG in the dogs’ sera in Slavonski Brod and Bjelovar city areas is in accordance with previous confirmation of Brod-Posavina and Bjelovar-Bilogora counties as moderate to high risk areas of TBE infections in humans. These results confirmed the circulation of TBEV in dogs in inland Croatia and usefulness of this surveillance system for determination of TBEV risk area for humans.

Tick borne encephalitis, IgG, dogs

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