“Canine Vector-Borne Diseases: The Zoonotic Potential of Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis with a focus on these infections in Australia” is a scientific literature review, authored by Emeritus Professor Peter Irwin in 2020.
AMRRIC commissioned Professor Irwin – a globally recognised tick borne disease expert – to undertake this literature review shortly after Ehrlichia canis had first been detected in Australia in 2020, based on AMRRIC’s One Health focused concerns about the zoonotic potential of this new pathogen in remote communities where tick control is often sub-optimal, and that already experience high levels of chronic disease. This review explores the published literature around both Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis infections in people, as well as the propensity of the host of these pathogens – the brown dog tick (Rhipecephalus sanguineus) to bite humans.
The review concludes:
It would seem prudent to remain vigilant for unexplained febrile illnesses in people who live closely with dogs, especially where ectoparasite control measures are suboptimal, when tick burdens are consequently high.
This work was funded with donations from AMRRIC’s supporters.