[Imported arthropod-borne parasites and parasitic arthropods in dogs. Species spectrum and epidemiologic analysis of the cases diagnosed in 1995/96].

Between January 1995 and December 1996 nonendemic or only regionally occurring arthropodborne parasites including ehrlichiae and parasitic arthropods in Germany were detected in 484 dogs, whereby at least 15 species were involved. Listed in decreasing order, Leishmania infections occurred most frequently, followed by infections/infestations with Babesia canis, Ehrlichia canis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dirofilaria immitis and Dermacentor reticulatus. The other species, namely Babesia gibsoni, Trypanosoma congolense, Hepatozoon canis, Ehrlichia platys, Dirofilaria repens, Dipetalonema reconditum, Dermacentor marginatus, Boophilus microplus and Cordylobia anthropophaga were demonstrated in a few or single dogs. Irrespective of the pathogen-species, most of the dogs had travelled with their owners to Mediterranean countries or to Portugal or had been imported from there. Infections with B. canis were diagnosed very frequently in dogs returning from Hungary. Of the 28 dogs with previous residence in Germany only, twelve and four animals were infected with B. canis and E. canis, respectively, and seven and five dogs were infested with R. sanguineus and D. marginatus, respectively.