Serological screening of Boreliosis and Anaplasmosis in shelter dogs of Aksaray province

The prevalence of tick-borne diseases in dogs, particularly those of zoonotic concern, has been on the rise, thereby posing significant threats. To effectively combat ticks and the diseases they transmit, it is imperative to understand the distribution of these pathogens. Two notable zoonotic diseases are Borreliosis and Anaplasmosis. The objective of this study was to ascertain the seroprevalence of Borreliosis and Anaplasmosis in shelter dogs in Aksaray province. The study included 90 shelter dogs of diverse breeds, ages, and sexes, all of which were brought in between 22 March 2023 and 12 February 2024. These dogs underwent routine clinical examinations and were subsequently screened for Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum using the species specific ELISA method. The statistical analysis encompassed a comprehensive evaluation of the measured parameters in relation to season, sex, disease presence, and tick status. The study revealed that 37.8% (34/90) of the dogs were positive for Borrelia burgdorferi, 33.3% (30/90) were positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and 8.9% (8/90) were suspicious. No statistically significant differences were found in terms of the parameters analysed in relation to seropositivity for both diseases. The conclusion drawn from these findings is that the prevalence of both borreliosis and anaplasmosis positive cases is high in Aksaray province, and that more comprehensive epidemiological studies based on molecular methods are required in Aksaray and Central Anatolia Region.