Hemotropic mycoplasmas and Bartonella spp. in dogs from Southern Italy: prevalence and risk factors

Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) include several zoonoses and represent an important concern where veterinarians play a major role. Although usually responsible for asymptomatic infections in animals and humans, these agents may also have fatal consequences in immunocompromised patients. In this study, different categories of dogs from the Campania region (southern Italy) were investigated for three canine vector-borne bacteria (i.e., Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum, Mycoplasma haemocanis, and Bartonella spp.) by using specific real-time PCR protocols. Out of 187 dogs, 45 (i.e., 24.1%) tested positive for at least one pathogen, with Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (14.4%) being the most prevalent, followed by Mycoplasma haemocanis (12.8%) and Bartonella spp. (1.6%). Coinfections with more than one agent were observed in 4.8% of the samples. The analysis of risk variables indicated province, activity, and lifestyle as risk factors associated with greater prevalence values. Non-hunting dogs (OR = 0.11) showed a significantly lower likelihood of being positive for at least one infection. Living outdoors (OR = 3.46), in Salerno province (OR = 13), had a higher likelihood of testing positive for at least one hemotropic species. These findings revealed a wide distribution of CBVDs in dog populations of the study area, clearly underlining the necessity for effective efforts to minimize ectoparasite activity.