Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37919757›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2023

Molecular detection of Babesia spp. in dogs in Germany (2007-2020) and identification of potential risk factors for infection.

Ingo Schäfer, Christina Sabine Helm, Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Jürgen Krücken, Tanja Kottmann, Annette Holtdirk, Barbara Kohn, Guy Hendrickx, Cedric Marsboom, Elisabeth Müller

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Parasites & vectors, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife · 2026
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  4. Clinicopathological abnormalities and outcome of acuteCurrent research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases · 2026
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  5. Retrospective analysis of anamnesis, clinical signs, therapy, and outcome in 342 dogs with acuteCurrent research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases · 2026
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Molecular analysis of vector-borne pathogens in red foxes (International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife · 2025
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. First molecular sequencing ofOpen veterinary journal · 2024
    Article
  11. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Ingo SchäferLABOKLIN GmbH & Co. KG, Steubenstraße 4, Bad Kissingen, 97688, Germany. i.schaefer@laboklin.com.
Christina Sabine HelmInstitute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, Berlin, 14163, Germany.
Georg von Samson-HimmelstjernaInstitute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, Berlin, 14163, Germany.
Jürgen KrückenInstitute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, Berlin, 14163, Germany.
Tanja KottmannClinical Research Organization Dr. med. Kottmann GmbH & Co. KG, Beverstraße 64, Hamm, 59007, Germany.
Annette HoltdirkClinical Research Organization Dr. med. Kottmann GmbH & Co. KG, Beverstraße 64, Hamm, 59007, Germany.
Barbara KohnSmall Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, Berlin, 14163, Germany.
Guy HendrickxR&D Department, AVIA GIS, Risschotlei 33, Zoersel, 2980, Belgium.
Cedric MarsboomR&D Department, AVIA GIS, Risschotlei 33, Zoersel, 2980, Belgium.
Elisabeth MüllerLABOKLIN GmbH & Co. KG, Steubenstraße 4, Bad Kissingen, 97688, Germany.
Freie Universität Berlin · DEAvia-GIS (Belgium) · BELaboklin (Germany) · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn Europe, canine babesiosis is most frequently caused by Babesia canis and Babesia vogeli, and occasionally by Babesia gibsoni.. In Germany, B. canis is recognized as endemic. The aims of this study were to assess how often Babesia spp. infections were diagnosed in a commercial laboratory in samples from dogs from Germany, and to evaluate potential risk factors for infection.

methodsThe database of the LABOKLIN laboratory was screened for Babesia spp.-positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for dogs for the period January 2007-December 2020. Sequencing was performed for positive tests from 2018 and 2019. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of sex, season, and year of testing. Questionnaires were sent to the submitting veterinarians to obtain information on travel abroad, tick infestation, and ectoparasite prophylaxis of the respective dogs. Fisher's exact test was used to calculate statistical significance and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

resultsIn total, 659 out of 20,914 dogs (3.2%) tested positive for Babesia spp. by PCR. Of 172 sequenced samples, B. canis was identified in 156, B. vogeli in nine, B. gibsoni in five, and B. vulpes in two. Season had a statistically significant impact on test results when summer/winter (1.6% tested positive) was compared to spring/autumn (4.7%), with peaks in April (5.2%) and October (7.4%) [P < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 3.16]. Sex (male 3.5%, female 2.8%; P = 0.012, OR = 1.49) and age (< 7 years old 4.0%, ≥ 7 years old 2.3%; P < 0.001, OR = 1.76) of the tested dogs also had a statistically significant effect. A statistically significant impact was demonstrated for observed tick attachment (P < 0.001, OR = 7.62) and lack of ectoparasite prophylaxis (P = 0.001, OR = 3.03). The frequency of positive Babesia spp. tests did not significantly differ between the 659 dogs that had never left Germany and the 1506 dogs with known stays abroad (P = 0.088).

conclusionsThe possibility of canine infection with B. canis needs to be especially taken into consideration in spring and autumn in Germany as the activity of the tick Dermacentor reticulatus, a potential vector for canine babesiosis, is highest in these seasons. Travel and importation of dogs are considered major factors associated with canine babesiosis in Germany. However, autochthonous Babesia spp. infections also occur in a considerable number of dogs in Germany.

Indexed as

BabesiaBabesiosisDog DiseasesTicksAnimalsDogsFemaleFoxesGermanyMaleRisk FactorsCanine babesiosisDermacentor reticulatusTickVector-borne disease

Identifiers

PMID37919757
PMCPMC10621212
OpenAlexW4388231654

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.