CVBD Proceedings of the 2 nd Canine Vector-Borne Disease (CVBD) Symposium Dr. Torsten J. Naucke Department of Zoology Division of Parasitology University of Hohenheim 70599 Stuttgart, Germany and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP) University Clinic Bonn 53105 Bonn, Germany Dermacentor reticulatus in Germany and the Spread of Canine Babesiosis Mazara del Vallo, Sicily, Italy. 25-28 April 2007
The search for Dermacentor in Germany Dermacentor reticulatus male Dermacentor reticulatus female
Dermacentor reticulatus in Germany and the Spread of Canine Babesiosis How to get an overview of the current distribution of Dermacentor ticks in Germany? Launch a project and send students and scientists in the field? How to get representative results for the whole of Germany?
Dermacentor reticulatus in Germany and the Spread of Canine Babesiosis The public with the main focus on dog owners should be asked to collect Dermacentor ticks in nature and/or from their pets. The public Dermacentor-project started September 2004.
1 st step Wanted circulars were distributed via Internet The ticks should not be send to a University, but to a club: Parasitus Ex
2 nd step Wanted posters were distributed amongst approximately 3,000 veterinary practices, to be placed in the waiting rooms
3 rd step A number of different articles on the subject were published in magazines 4 th step A film The attack of Parasites was produced and was transmitted at least twelve times, and reached more than five million individuals
Dermacentor reticulatus in Germany geographical distribution Until December 2,322 Dermacentor ticks were collected by the public (unfed ones). 2,293 were D. reticulatus 29 were D. marginatus More than 300 Dermacentor biotopes were described by the public
Distribution of Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in Germany December 2006
Babesia spp. and their vectors Dermacentor reticulatus Babesia c. canis Rhipicephalus sanguineus Dermacentor is the vector of Babesia c. canis in France, Hungary, northern Spain, northern Italy, Poland (Masuren), Germany (e.g. Saarland, Munich, Regensburg, Siegen, Münster, Filderstadt, Berlin, Koblenz, Bonn, Leverkusen, etc.), the Netherlands (Den Haag, Arnhem). Rhipicephalus is the vector of Babesia c. vogeli in Spain, Portugal, Greece, France, Italy.
Dermacentor reticulatus in Germany isolation of Babesia sp. All ticks (unfed ones) were kept in 70% alcohol All ticks were stored at 4 C All ticks were analysed by PCR for the presence of Babesia sp. (2 private laboratories) All Babesia sp. positive samples were sequenced (governmental laboratory)
Babesia sp. positive Dermacentor ticks in Germany Number Female Male D. reticulatus Babesia species Location 36a x x Babesia canis Prenden im Wald 107a x x Babesia microti Magdeburg 111a x x Babesia canis Schönbuch (Tübingen) 164a x x Babesia vogeli Berlin 202a x x Babesia microti Leipzig 212e x x Babesia vogeli Elbtal 219b x x Babesia canis Viernheim (Hessen) 225a x x Babesia canis Genthin (Brandenburg) 261a x x Babesia microti Rangsdorf (Tältow) 283a x x Babesia canis Rödental 332d x x Babesia canis Berlin 352j x x Babesia canis Waldgebiet Aken December 2006. 2 322 Dermacentor ticks were screened by PCR for the presence of Babesia sp. 0,52% were positive.
Distribution of Babesia sp. positive Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in Germany Red: B. canis Blue: B. vogeli Yellow: B. microti December 2006