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Simply Summary: Anaplasmosis is a widely spread emerging tick-borne disease, generally transmitted by the Ixodes tick species. Two members of the Anaplasma genus—A. phagocytophilum (infecting neutrophils) and A. platys (infecting platelets)—cause granulocytic anaplasmosis and thrombocytopenia in some animals and humans. Our case report describes granulocytic anaplasmosis in two dogs routinely tested for blood donation. The blood smear was negative for tick-borne pathogens, and the haematology findings indicated thrombocytopenia in both dogs. The dogs were mildly positive in the ELISA tests for the detection of antibodies for Anaplasma spp. The qRT-PCR result was negative for A. platys but positive for A. phagocytophilum. In conclusion, the molecular test is mandatory for confirmation of Anaplasma spp. infection, and we suggest it should be implemented in all blood donors. This study describes granulocytic anaplasmosis in two dogs naturally infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The 3-year-old dogs (male and female) came from the same household and were referred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Iasi for blood donation. They were subject to standard routine tests: haematology blood test, blood smear, and serological tests (VETSCAN® FLEX4 and IDEXX SNAP 4Dx Plus). The female dog had no medical problems, while the male dog experienced joint pain. The blood smear was negative for tick-borne pathogens, and the haematology findings indicated thrombocytopenia in both dogs, with the male dog also displaying eosinophilia. The two dogs were mildly positive in the ELISA tests for the detection of Anaplasma spp. antibodies; therefore, the blood samples were tested using the qRT-PCR method for Anaplasma platys and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The qRT-PCR result was negative for A. platys, but it was positive for A. phagocytophilum. The treatment consisted of the administration of doxycycline for 28 days. In conclusion, the high number of cases with non-specific clinical signs, the different sensitivity and specificity of the immunochromatographic serological tests, as well as the possibility of confusing the morula during the cytological examination, make the molecular test mandatory for precise diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Romanian Journal of Veterinary Medicine & Pharmacology is the property of Innovation in Health Center and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As a result of global warming, the change in the biological cycle of vectors and the increase in intercontinental travels, we are now facing an increase in the number of cases of vector-borne diseases. Among these, heartworm disease has escalated in recent years in Romania, with cases increasing in many parts of our country. Our study was carried out in the South-Eastern part of Romania, with the aim of establishing the prevalence of heartworm disease in dogs, with the identification of the two species Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens. Blood samples were collected during the period May - July 2022 and January - July 2023, from 220 dogs with and without an owner from Tulcea county, from places such as Tulcea, Murighiol, Somova, Mineri, Niculițel. The blood samples were tested through the Knott method, which is considered as the reference method in the diagnosis of dirofilariosis in dogs. The results show a prevalence of Dirofilaria spp. infection of 11.36% in dogs. Of the 220 samples examined by the Knott test, 25 were positive for circulating microfilariae, of which 21 showed infestations with Dirofilaria immitis and 4 with co-infection with Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens. The study underlines the importance of introducing monitoring and control programs for heartworm disease in dogs in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is a relatively new diagnostic technique that has revolutionised clinical microbiology by accurately identifying species of bacteria, filamentous fungi and yeasts. Recently, new applications to identify parasites and arthropods of medical interest have been developed, but few have developed MALDI-TOF analysis protocols for characterizing arthropod species. Thus, there is a need for a standardization in terms of the anatomical part(s) to be used according to arthropod families (head, thorax, legs) and the steps for protein extraction and homogenization. In this study we created a bank of 47 specimens including the following species: Aedes caspius, Anopheles hyrcanus, Anopheles maculipennis, Coquillettidia richiardii, Culiseta annulata, Culex pipiens. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the quality of spectra and of results in the identification between different anatomical parts of mosquitoes, head, thorax (with wings) and legs, in order to optimize the use of the MALDI-TOF spectrometry tool. We evaluated the bank using the "bank versus bank" test (database provided by the laboratory of parasitology and mycology of Paris, Sorbonne University), each specimen had 4 deposits of protein extracts and the identification threshold log(score) was set to 1.7. Identifications were confirmed by morphological identification keys. There were differences in the protein profiles between each anatomical part. Leg spectra had the lowest number of high intensity peaks compared to those of the head or thorax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases differs geographically, and transmission times may change in response to the interaction between pathogens, vectors, hosts and the environment. In the context of global warming there is a need to monitor the risk of emergence and re-emergence of vector-borne diseases in Romania. The forecast made in this study shows an increase in temperature until 2050 by 0.78°C, which demonstrated the possibility of extending the transmission period of Plasmodium protozoa until November, of West Nile virus until October and of Dengue fever from June to the first half of September. The results underline the need to introduce vectors and vector-borne disease monitoring and control programmes in Romania in the context of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infestation in domestic cats are limited, both for Europe and globally. Diagnosis is quite laborious and often the infestation is not included in the differential diagnosis of respiratory diseases, a fact which leads to a late diagnosis that endangers the life of the animal, even causing its death. In case of massive infestation, respiratory symptoms are complemented by a diarrhoeal syndrome and anorexia. In June 2023 at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Iasi, Romania, a cat (common breed, male, aged 1 year and 4 months) came with respiratory symptoms, chronic cough, shortness of breath, mucopurulent nasal discharge, accelerated breathing and loss of appetite. The cat had previously been treated for chronic bronchitis. Radiological interpretation was of an intensified interstitial lung pattern with nodular and bronchial appearance, compatible with chronic micro-bronchitis. The first diagnosis was pneumonia, but following symptomatic treatment the results were not satisfactory. Following coproparasitological examination the result was infestation with Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and antiparasitic treatment was instituted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results regarding the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in humans in the city of Iasi during one year, show a rate of 6,6% of cases detected with positive IgM, and 32.7% of cases detected with positive IgG, compared to the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in cats which shows a rate of 0.7% of positive cases detected with positive IgM; which denotes that toxoplasmosis is underdiagnosed in veterinary medicine. A very important role is played by the diagnostic method used. The article deals with a case study, a 1,8-year-old cat with cerebellar ataxia, dysmetria and hypermetria, with moderate opacification of the entire corneal surface, panuveitis, chorioretinitis and corneal edema. Following the paraclinical investigations, the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis was made, using the Welltest Toxoplasma IgG/IgM immunochromatographic test, confirming the acute phase of the disease with positive IgM and negative IgG. Using the molecular detection techniques through qRT PCR, the result was negative, emphasizing the fact that the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii uses the blood as a way of spreading in the body, the relatively short phase that can induce a negative result, despite the presence of severe symptoms. The conclusions emphasize the importance of using a correct diagnostic method, molecular techniques, despite their high sensitivity, are not always recommended. In toxoplasmosis, the recommended diagnostic method is the serological one to detect IgG/IgM antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dogs and cats play an important role in the spread of tick species and in the transmission of pathogens. Dermacentor reticulatus occurs in areas by varied types of climate, vegetation and a high availability of potential hosts, while Ixodes ricinus follows a similar seasonal pattern each year. This study was carried out between 2017 and 2021, where we examined 189 canine patients of different breeds, aged between 2 months and 18 years. We collected 435 ticks which were placed individually according to the animal in eppendorf tubes in ethyl alcohol and numbered, until morphological identification. The collected ticks were predominantly adults with different feeding status, belonging to the species: Ixodes ricinus (41.6%), Dermacentor reticulatus (57.7%) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex (0.69%). Dermacentor reticulatus was predominant, with two peaks of activity in spring and autumn. We also found 2 specimens of D. reticulatus males, in January, outside the normal period of activity. The second species identified, Ixodes ricinus, shows three peaks of activity, having the most intense period of activity in the spring months. The second peak is observed in summer, and the third in autumn. The prevalence of the species Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex is low, of only 0.69% of the total ticks collected from dogs.The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tick infestations collected from canine patients, in order to assess a possible change in the activity periods of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]