Background: Canine hepatozoonosis caused by Hepatozoon canis is a common infection in dogs, with frequent case reports from the Mediterranean region and more recently from several Central European countries, such as Hungary and Germany. Despite the high prevalence of H. canis in red foxes, no infections have been reported to date in dogs in Poland. We describe here the first autochthonous cases of H. canis infection in dogs, including their clinical features, and report the prevalence of H. canis in grey wolves from different regions of Poland. Methods: Thin smears prepared from blood samples collected from dogs were evaluated by microscopic examination. A total of 60 wolves and 47 dogs were tested. Infections were confirmed by PCR and sequencing. Results: Gamonts of H. canis were found in > 50% of the neutrophils of two dogs and in < 10% of the neutrophils in another five dogs. Molecular typing by PCR sequencing of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene fragment confirmed infections in 11 dogs from different regions of Poland, in 2.7% of dogs attending veterinary practices in central Poland and in 35% of wolves from various geographical regions of Poland. Clinical features manifested mostly in older dogs, and the most common signs were anaemia and apathy. Young dogs usually remained asymptomatic. Conclusions: This is the first report of H. canis infection in dogs and wolves in Poland. Although the exact vector of the parasite is not known, veterinary practitioners should be aware of this new parasitosis and should consider appropriate diagnostics to confirm/exclude this infection. Further studies are needed to understand the transmission routes of H. canis in domestic and wild canids in Poland. Graphical

Dirofilaria repensis an expanding vector-borne zoonotic parasite of canines and other carnivores. Sub-clinically infected dogs constitute the most important reservoir of the parasite and the source of infection for its mosquito vectors. However, occurrence ofD. repensinfection in wild animals may contribute to the transmission of the parasite to humans and may explain the endemicity of filariae in newly invaded regions. The aim of the current study was to determine the occurrence ofD. repensin 511 blood and spleen samples from seven species of wild carnivores (wolves, red foxes, Eurasian badgers, raccoons, raccoon dogs, stone martens, and pine martens) from different regions of Poland by means of a PCR protocol targeting the 12S rDNA gene.Dirofilaria repens–positive hosts were identified in seven of fourteen voivodeships in four of the seven regions of Poland: Masovia, Lesser Poland, Pomerania and Warmia-Masuria. The highest prevalence was found in Masovia region (8%), coinciding with the highest previously recorded prevalence in dogs in Central Poland. The DNA ofDirofilariawas detected in 16 samples of three species (total prevalence 3.13%). A low and similar percentage of positive samples (1.9%, 4.2% and 4.8%) was recorded among badgers, red foxes, and wolves, respectively.Dirofilaria repens–positive hosts were identified in seven of fourteen voivodships. Based on detection in different voivodeships,D. repens–positive animals were recorded in four out of the seven regions of Poland: in Masovia, Lesser Poland, Pomerania, and Warmia-Masuria. The highest prevalence of filariae was found in Masovia region (8%), reflecting the highest previously recorded prevalence in dogs (12–50%) in Central Poland. In summary, we conducted the first comprehensive study on the epidemiology ofD. repensin seven species of wild hosts in all seven regions of Poland and identified the first case ofD. repensinfection in Eurasian badgers in Poland and the second in Europe.

Ticks are important vectors of numerous pathogens of medical and veterinary significance. The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of Babesia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in sled and pet dogs from Central and North-Eastern Europe. Neither Babesia spp. nor Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. infections were detected in sled dogs from seven countries (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Russia and Finland). The DNA of Babesia spp. was detected in 100% of symptomatic and 5.4% of asymptomatic pet dogs from Poland. Similarly, the DNA of Babesia spp. was identified in 82% of symptomatic and 3.8% of asymptomatic pet dogs from Ukraine. The DNA of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 4.4% of pet dogs. Molecular typing confirmed the presence of Babesia canis and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) in selected samples. Four dogs were co-infected by B. canis and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. Tick-borne pathogens constitute a serious health threat to pet dogs in Central and South-Eastern Europe, but were not observed among sled dogs from the same region of Europe nor in the Baltic countries.

Introduction and objective: In recent years, the geographical range of many tick species has expanded significantly, increasing the threat of emerging tick-borne diseases. Th aim of this review is to assess the current state of tick control in the environment, highlighting the limitations of...

Background: Occurrence of tick-borne diseases (TBD) is often seasonal and associated with seasonal activity of appropriate tick vectors. As seasonal activity of ticks differs, the risk of contracting particular TBD should change between and within seasons. It is of key importance to monitor seasonal dynamic of tick vectors, especially in human-associated habitats. The aim of the current study was to compare activity and density of Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus during spring season in urban and suburban habitats. Methods: Systematic tick collection by dragging was performed every 1–2 weeks between mid-March and mid-June 2021 at 15 sites: 6 in Warsaw (urban areas) and 9 in suburban areas. Results: During 178 field collections of ticks, including 131 collections from urban sites and 47 collections from rural areas, 738 ticks (385 adult D. reticulatus and 353 I. ricinus) were collected. Dermacentor reticulatus ticks are found from the beginning of spring, peaking in April and May, and I. ricinus ticks are present from early April, peaking in April and May as well. I. ricinus were abundant in rural and urban areas, including botanical garden and forest kindergarten area. Dermacentor reticulatus were found in urban fallow lands but were not collected in parks. These ticks were abundant in fallow lands, meadow, and mixed forest. DNA of B. burgdorferi s.l. and Rickettsia spp. was identified in ticks from urban areas. Conclusions: Due to the marked differences in spring dynamic of D. reticulatus and I. ricinus, the sampling effort should be repeated at least three times per season for accurate estimation of tick occurrence (presence/absence) and density. Due to “exchange” of tick species, total tick density remains high through the spring season of activity, which may result in high transmission of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). Tick densities are dependent on the habitat type and may be low in well-managed agricultural habitats (crop fields, pastures, chicken yard), but high in semi-natural habitats (fallow lands, rural forests). Numerous I. ricinus populations can be maintained in urban green areas such as botanical gardens. Ticks from urban areas can serve as vectors of important TBPs (B. burgdorferi s.l., Rickettsia spp.). Graphical

The family Trombiculidae encompasses numerous and widespread mites, the larvae of which are obligatory parasites of vertebrates. Our research objective was to assess how trombiculid burdens on rodents inhabiting three forested and one open area in NE Poland vary in relation to host identity, sex and body size, and how they are influenced by qualities of the habitat. Trapped rodents (n = 240) were measured, weighted and screened for ectoparasites. Apodemus flavicollis (n = 42) and Myodes glareolus (n = 173) harbored a total of 4652 Hirsutiella zachchvatkini larvae. Statistical tests revealed that both prevalence and abundance were significantly higher in voles (93%, 27 larvae/ind.) than in mice (14%, 0.24 larvae/ind.) but there was no effect of host sex. Among the localities, H. zachvatkini was most prevalent (98%) and abundant (41 larvae/ind.) in rodents from the deciduous mixed forest in Tałty compared to fallow land (2.6%, 0.13 larvae/ind.). The highest prevalence and abundance were found in bank voles; in this host species in Tałty, prevalence reached 100% and the mean abundance was >42 larvae/ind. Significant positive correlations were found between the body mass and body length of voles and the number of attached larvae. Our results confirm the sylvan nature of H. zachvatkini and its preference for bank voles inhabiting deciduous forests with rich and humid undergrowth. The lack of a sex bias and the moderate correlation between mite burden and host size are in line with observations already made on other rodent-associated Trombiculidae.