A field trial evaluation of the prophylactic efficacy of amitraz-impregnated collars against canine babesiosis (Babesia canis rossi) in South Africa
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Date
Authors
Last, R.D.
Hill, J.M.
Matjila, Paul Tshepo
Reme, C.A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South African Veterinary Association
Abstract
South African canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis rossi is a common clinical disease in dogs in South Africa and remains a significant cause of domestic dog mortality. To determine whether tick-repellent, 9% amitraz-impregnated tick collars (Preventic-Virbac) could prevent tick-borne exposure to B. canis rossi, 50 dogs were assigned to two groups. Group 1 (20 dogs), polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- and reverse line blot (RLB)-negative for B. canis rossi, were fitted with amitraz collars and blood samples collected monthly , over a 6-month period, and analysed for B. canis rossi. Group 2 (30 dogs) included 5 dogs selected on a month-by-month basis from a population of dogs from the same geographical area as the group 1 dogs, but with no history of previous tick control, which were blood-sampled together with the treatment group and analysed for B. canis rossi by PCR and RLB, to serve as the control group. Eight of the 30 control dogs (26.6 %) were PCR / RLB positive for B. canis rossi, indicating high pathogen exposure during the trial period. All twenty of the treatment group dogs remained negative for B. canis rossi throughout the 6 months of the trial. These results suggest that the use of amitraz-impregnated collars had a significant effect on reducing infection with B. canis rossi.
Description
Keywords
Babesiosis control, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Reverse line blot (RLB), Tick attachment, Tick collar, Tick-borne diseases in animals, Veterinary protozoology
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Last, RD, Hill, JM, Matjila, PT & Rème, CA 2007, 'A field trial evaluation of the prophylactic efficacy of amitraz-impregnated collars against canine babesiosis (Babesia canis rossi) in South Africa', Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, vol. 78, no. 2, pp. 63-65. [http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_savet.html]