Ligda, Panagiota
Gizzarelli, Manuela
Kostopoulou, Despoina
Foglia Manzillo, Valentina
Saratsis, Anastasios
Saratsi, Katerina
Michler, Susan
Ringeisen, Hannah
Boegel, Annette
Schunack, Bettina
Pollmeier, Matthias
Kontrafouris, Michalis
Tsatsaki, Ourania
Oliva, Gaetano
Sotiraki, Smaragda
Article History
Received: 25 September 2022
Accepted: 19 January 2023
First Online: 7 March 2023
Declarations
:
: This study was conducted in accordance with the VICH GL9 (2000) guideline on Good Clinical Practice, and carried out in compliance with the national animal welfare regulations. Diagnostic veterinary procedures are not within the context of relevant EU legislation for animal experimentation (Directive 86/609/EC) and may be performed in order to diagnose animal diseases and improve animal welfare. Samples were collected by registered veterinarians and caused no suffering to the animals. Owners were thoroughly informed about the study, and consent by signing a dedicated form at inclusion. If any of the enrolled animals tested positive for any of the studied pathogens, then its health status was clinically assessed regularly to evaluate if treatment was necessary. If any dog was found suffering from a condition or disease that was life threatening or caused severe discomfort, it received veterinary care and was immediately removed from the study as appropriate.
: Not applicable.
: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.