Woo! It's time for a callout for our Fifth Annual #NEAM (November Epilepsy Awareness Month) #EpiStar Features! I f you are a follower of my...

Woo! It's time for a callout for our Fifth Annual #NEAM (November Epilepsy Awareness Month) #EpiStar Features! I f you are a follower of my...

Woo! It's time for a callout for our Fifth Annual #NEAM (November Epilepsy Awareness Month) #EpiStar Features! I f you are a follower of my...

Woo! It's time for a callout for our Fifth Annual #NEAM (November Epilepsy Awareness Month) #EpiStar Features! I f you are a follower of my...

Woo! It's time for a callout for our Fifth Annual #NEAM (November Epilepsy Awareness Month) #EpiStar Features! I f you are a follower of my...

Plague is a disease that can be carried by: A. Mice B. Rats C. Cats D. Dogs #plague #infection #epi

EPI in dogs (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) prevents proper digestion. Learn the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options for dogs with EPI.

W hile the "Ring of Fire" Solar Eclipse is exciting to many, for caregivers of dogs with epilepsy (Epi-dogs), it can also be a time when we ...

While every day is a day to honor the amazing dogs who live with/have lived with epilepsy, t oday is International Epilepsy Day ! Each ye...

O nce again, please know this  post is NOT to alarm anyone. It's just another informational post for awareness for dogs who live with sei...

Ticks are one of the most important vectors of zoonotic pathogens in Europe, including Rickettsia spp. In Romania, several pathogenic species belonging to the Spotted Fever Group (SFG) transmitted primarily through tick bites have been identified. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Rickettsia spp. infection in ticks collected from public shelter dogs in Tulcea County, Romania, as an indicator of pathogen circulation within shelter environments and their potential epidemiological relevance. A total of 730 ticks collected between March 2023 and September 2024 from 216 public shelter dogs, belonging to four species (Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor marginatus, and Dermacentor reticulatus), were morphologically identified and pooled by species, sex, and developmental stage resulting in 132 pools. DNA extracted from pools was tested by Real-Time PCR, targeting the gltA gene, specific for Rickettsia spp. Overall, 123/132 (93.2%) pools tested positive for Rickettsia spp. DNA, while the Minimum Infection Rate (MIR) at tick level was 16.8%. High pool positivity rates were consistently observed across all four species: 93.6% positive pools for Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (MIR 15%), 88.2% for Ixodes ricinus (MIR 20.5%), 87.5% for Dermacentor marginatus (MIR 58.3%), and 100% for Dermacentor reticulatus (MIR 21.7%). These findings demonstrate a substantial circulation of Rickettsia spp. in dog-shelter associated ticks, highlighting the role of dogs as sentinel hosts. Continuous molecular surveillance and identifying circulating species is needed for a better determination of the zoonotic risk.

Ticks are one of the most important vectors of zoonotic pathogens in Europe, including Rickettsia spp. In Romania, several pathogenic species belonging to the Spotted Fever Group (SFG) transmitted primarily through tick bites have been identified. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Rickettsia spp. infection in ticks collected from public shelter dogs in Tulcea County, Romania, as an indicator of pathogen circulation within shelter environments and their potential epidemiological relevance. A total of 730 ticks collected between March 2023 and September 2024 from 216 public shelter dogs, belonging to four species (Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor marginatus, and Dermacentor reticulatus), were morphologically identified and pooled by species, sex, and developmental stage resulting in 132 pools. DNA extracted from pools was tested by Real-Time PCR, targeting the gltA gene, specific for Rickettsia spp. Overall, 123/132 (93.2%) pools tested positive for Rickettsia spp. DNA, while the Minimum Infection Rate (MIR) at tick level was 16.8%. High pool positivity rates were consistently observed across all four species: 93.6% positive pools for Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (MIR 15%), 88.2% for Ixodes ricinus (MIR 20.5%), 87.5% for Dermacentor marginatus (MIR 58.3%), and 100% for Dermacentor reticulatus (MIR 21.7%). These findings demonstrate a substantial circulation of Rickettsia spp. in dog-shelter associated ticks, highlighting the role of dogs as sentinel hosts. Continuous molecular surveillance and identifying circulating species is needed for a better determination of the zoonotic risk.

W oo! Welcome to our #FiveSibes 4TH Annual Sponsor-A-Husky for the Howlidays Drive!  This year we once again had five Rescues answer our cal...

This week Matt is joined by all of us as we talk football, finances and fan ownership. Womble World Bye Simon Hood. Service Dogs video. Mark Movember. WAWF.

This week Matt is joined by all of us as we talk football, finances and fan ownership. Womble World Bye Simon Hood. Service Dogs video. Mark Movember. WAWF.

We look back at the South Georgia Heritage Trust's successful project to eradicate rats and protect the habitat of this Southern Ocean island.