@article {10.3844/ajavsp.2026.21.03.025,
article_type = {journal},
title = {Epidemiological, Molecular,
and Hematological Characteristics of Infection by Anaplasma Spp., Babesia
Spp., Ehrlichia Spp., and Hepatozoon Spp., in Shelter Dogs from
Northeastern Colombia},
author = {Esteban-Mendoza, María Victoria and Murcia-Cueto, Ian Sebastián and Jiménez, Ángela Patricia and Esteban-Villegas, Sirly Catherine and Cabeza-Paredes, Susan Sofía and Delgado-Fuentes, Iván Santiago and Jaimes-Dueñez, Jeiczon},
volume = {21},
number = {3},
year = {2026},
month = {Oct},
pages = {25-1},
doi = {10.3844/ajavsp.2026.21.03.025},
url = {https://thescipub.com/abstract/ajavsp.2026.21.03.025},
abstract = {Tick-borne pathogens represent a significant health problem for dogs, particularly in shelters, where overcrowding and limited veterinary care can facilitate transmission. Although these agents are widely distributed throughout Colombia, epidemiological studies in shelter populations remain scarce. This study evaluated 112 dogs from nine shelters in the Metropolitan Area of Bucaramanga (MAB), Santander, to determine the frequency of infections caused by tick-borne pathogens of the genera Anaplasma, Babesia, Ehrlichia, and Hepatozoon. Overall, 5.35% (6/112; 95% CI: 0.20–11.3%) of dogs were positive by blood smear, whereas 42.85% (48/112; 95% CI: 33.5–52.6%) tested positive by conventional PCR (cPCR). The κ index between blood smear and cPCR indicated slight agreement (κ = 0.077; 95% CI: −0.159 to 0.005). Ehrlichia canis was the most frequent infection (27.67%; 95% CI: 19.6–36.9%), followed by Hepatozoon canis (8.92%; 95% CI: 4.4–15.8%), Babesia vogeli (7.14%; 95% CI: 3.1–13.6%), and Anaplasma platys (6.25%; 95% CI: 2.5–12.5%), respectively. Four coinfection patterns (E. canis + B. vogeli, E. canis + H. canis, B. vogeli + H. canis, E. canis + A. platys) were identified in 7.14% (8/112; 95% CI: 3.1–13.6%) of the dogs. Hematological analysis revealed thrombocytopenia, reduced mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and increased monocyte and basophil counts in dogs infected with E. canis, while A. platys infection was associated with basophilia (P},
journal = {American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences},
publisher = {Science Publications}
}