Seroprevalence of Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis in canines assisted in the Mascolive veterinary clinic in playa municipality of Havana, Cuba

Authors

  • César Espinosa-Ruiz Clínica Veterinaria Mascolive, municipio Playa, La Habana, Cuba.
  • Indira Castillo-Iglesias Clínica Veterinaria Mascolive, municipio Playa, La Habana, Cuba.
  • Patricia Rodríguez-Antúnez Clínica Veterinaria Mascolive, municipio Playa, La Habana, Cuba.
  • Liena Sánchez-Martínez Clínica Veterinaria Mascolive, municipio Playa, La Habana, Cuba.
  • Yolanda E. Suárez-Fernández Clínica Veterinaria Mascolive, municipio Playa, La Habana, Cuba.
  • David del Valle-Laveaga Departamento de Parasitología. Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad (HARE), Dr. Juan Graham Casasús, México.
  • Rigoberto Fimia-Duarte Facultad de Tecnología de la Salud y Enfermería (FTSE), Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara (UCM-VC), Cuba.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62429/rnh20262012117

Keywords:

ehrlichiosis, hemoparasites, One Health, seroprevalence, zoonoses

Abstract

Among tick-borne diseases, several stand out as being of epidemiological importance, such as Lyme disease (borreliosis), ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. These are emerging diseases and represent a significant public health problem. Globally, their numbers have doubled in the last ten years, and their geographic distribution has expanded. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the seroprevalence of ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis in canines treated at the "Mascolive" veterinary clinic in the Playa municipality of Havana, Cuba. The research was conducted between November 2023 and February 2024, during which 1.668 canines were treated at the aforementioned veterinary clinic, and 52 were classified as having clinical presentations compatible with hemoparasites (CCC-hemoparasites). Signs and symptoms were characterized for each animal, peripheral blood was examined microscopically, and a commercial antigen test was applied to determine antibodies against Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Babesia spp., demonstrating a seroprevalence of 86.54% for ehrlichiosis in the hemoparasites canine colonies (CCCs) during the study period. Less frequently, dogs positive for Ehrlichia spp. also exhibited co-infection with Anaplasma spp. or Babesia spp., or with Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Babesia spp. Canine distemper, gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and Dirophilaria immitis (Leidy, 1856) were the most frequent complications. A high prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. is suggested among the dogs treated. The study concludes that veterinary care should be focused on One Health to prevent zoonoses.

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Published

2026-03-02

How to Cite

Espinosa-Ruiz, C., Castillo-Iglesias, I., Rodríguez-Antúnez, P., Sánchez-Martínez, L., Suárez-Fernández, Y. E., del Valle-Laveaga, D., & Fimia-Duarte, R. (2026). Seroprevalence of Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis in canines assisted in the Mascolive veterinary clinic in playa municipality of Havana, Cuba. Neotropical Helminthology, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.62429/rnh20262012117