Molecular identification of Babesia spp. in naturally infected dogs of Kerala, South India (original) (raw)
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High prevalence of small Babesia species in canines of Kerala, South India
Aim: Canine babesiosis is an important vector-borne hemoparasitic disease caused by Babesia canis vogeli and Babesia gibsoni, in India. The communication places on record the salient findings of the study directed to detect and characterize the pathogenic B. gibsoni isolates of Kerala state. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 dogs were examined for the presence of hemoparasites by light microscopy as well as by PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene of B. gibsoni. Hematological parameters were also analysed. Phylogenetic tree was constructed based on Tamura kei model adopting ML method. Results: A sensitive and specific polymerase chain reaction assay was developed with newly designed primer pair BAGI-F/ BAGI-R for the amplification of 488 bp fragment of 18S rRNA gene of B. gibsoni. Out of the 150 dogs examined, molecular evidence of B. gibsoni was recorded in 47.3% animals, while light microscopy detected the infection in 26.67% cases. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that B. gibsoni, Kerala, isolate was closest and occurred together with Bareilly isolate. Anemia and thrombocytopenia were the significant hematological alterations in chronic B. gibsoni infection. Conclusion: A high prevalence of natural infection of B. gibsoni was detected among the study population. The affected animals showed anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Phylogenetic analysis of this pathogenic isolate from south India revealed the closest similarity with Bareilly isolates.
Indian Journal of Animal Research, 2021
Background: Babesiosis in dogs is endemic in tropical countries like India because of presence of tick vectors as well as reservoir stray dog population round the year. There is paucity of information regarding the prevalence and molecular confirmation of Babesia species in dogs in Andhra Pradesh. The present study was aimed to detect Babesia species in naturally infected dogs in Andhra Pradesh.Methods: During the one-year study i.e. from June 2019 to July 2020, blood samples were collected from 442 tick infected dogs showing clinical signs suggestive of babesiosis to determine the prevalence of Babesia species by microscopy and molecular technique. Factors associated with prevalence of babesiosis were analyzed by logistic regression models.Result: Microscopic examination of stained blood smears revealed 11.8% prevalence of Babesia spp. infection in dogs in the study area, while 28.3% of dogs were found to be positive for Babesia spp. in the first Babesia genus-specific PCR. Further...
Molecular Investigation of Canine Babesiosis in and Around Bhubaneswar, India
2021
Canine babesiosis, a hemolytic protozoan disease represents an important veterinary problem caused primarily by large and small forms of piroplasms of Babesia spp. A molecular-based survey on the overall occurrence of natural Babesia infection in stray(n=98 ) and pet dogs(n=100) from Bhubaneswar and nearby areas using PCR technique targeting 18s RNA gene fragment along with genetic sequence analysis was carried out. A total of 38 (pet:22, stray:16) samples (19.19%) were found positive for babesiosis based on the amplification of 450 bp amplicon region of the gene while 4 samples (0.02%) showed co-infection with Hepatozoon canis. The sequenced PCR products were submitted to NCBI ,and on BLAST analysis the isolates with accession no KT246303, KT246306, KT246307 showing similarity with Babesia vogeli, while KT246305 was identical to B.gibsoni isolates and KT246304 was identical to Hepatozoon canis. This is the first report on the molecular diagnosis of canine babesiosis in the state. P...
Epidemiological investigation on canine babesiosis in Tarai region of Uttarakhand
The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences
Babesiosis is a haemoprotozoan disease caused by hemotropic protozoa of the Babesia genus. It is an emerging disease and has zoonotic importance which continues to emerge worldwide. It has significant economic impact on livestock and pet animals; especially in the tropical and subtropical regions. The present study was undertaken in different epidemiological aspect on canine babesiosis in Tarai region of Uttarakhand. The overall prevalence of canine babesiosis was recorded as 23.63% based on retrospective study; out of which 55.44% dogs were infested with ticks on hospital records. It was more prevalent in males (25.89%) as compared to female dogs (19.74%). The maximum prevalence was seen in German Shepherd (29.03%) as compared to Bull Mastiff (5.25%). Young dogs (1-3 years of age) were comparatively more affected in comparison to adult dogs. The highest prevalence was found in July (33.33%) whereas least was recorded in December (8.04%). High rise of temperature, tick infestation, ...
Molecular survey and phylogenetic analysis of Babesia vogeli in dogs
Canine babesiosis is a life-threatening haemoparasitic disease in dogs that is prevalent worldwide. In this study, the prevalence of Babesia vogeli (B. vogeli) was investigated in dogs from Egypt by using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay, and associated risk factors were evaluated. In addition, phylogenetic position of B. vogeli Egyptian isolate was determined by sequencing. A total of 275 blood samples were taken from dogs located in four governorates belonging to the north of Egypt. Samples were examined by PCR targeting the B. vogeli 18S rRNA gene and this species was also confirmed by sequencing. Overall, the prevalence of B. vogeli was 5.1% among the studied dogs and the highest prevalence rate was found in the Giza governorate. Univariate logistic regression was used to evaluate each variable individually. The results revealed a significant association between the prevalence of B. vogeli infection and whether or not dogs were infested with ticks and the type of floor used in dog shelters. Additionally, tick infestation (OR 6.1, 95% CI 1.2-31.4), and living in shelters with soil floors (OR 3.8, 95% CI 0.8-17.8) were identified as potential risk factors for B. vogeli infection. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using B. vogeli 18S rRNA partial sequences with the hypervariable V4 region from GenBank. The Egyptian isolate was assigned to second sub-cluster with B. vogeli isolates from Japan, Venezuela and Paraguay within the B. vogeli/B. canis cluster. The present data will be useful to improve the understanding of canine babesiosis epidemiology and ways to control the disease in companion dogs. Babesiosis is a disease that affects dogs all over the world. It is caused by intracellular erythrocytic parasites of the genus Babesia 1,2. The disease is spread by ixodid ticks that carry either small (1-2.5 µm) or large (4-5 µm) Babesia species. Large Babesia spp. were previously thought to be B. canis, but they are now classified into three independent species based on their genetic traits, the severity of the clinical signs that they cause, their tick vectors and their range geographical distribution 3-5. These three species are Babesia canis, Babesia rossi and Babesia vogeli 2,6,7. The most common Babesia species in Europe is B. canis, which is transmitted by Dermacentor reticulatus. Haemaphysalis elliptica transmits B. rossi, which is the most common species in South Africa; B. vogeli is transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, which is most commonly found in tropical and subtropical areas 1,8-10. Canine babesiosis has no specific symptoms; however, pyrexia, anorexia, epistaxis, petechiae and splenomegaly are common signs, along with hemoglobinuria, anemia and thrombocytopenia 2. The disease is routinely diagnosed based on clinical signs, hematological findings and detection of intracellular parasites in blood smears 11,12. In order to confirm infection and start treatment, various laboratory procedures, such as serological tests and molecular methods, should be performed due to the lack of distinct clinical signs and the high frequency of false negatives that occur in analysis of blood smears, especially in cases of low parasitaemia 13,14. Serological testing is a valuable diagnostic tool, although it has limits due to cross-reactivity between Babesia species and the inability to use this method to differentiate early from chronic infection 15 .
Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 2014
Canine babesiosis is a vector borne disease caused by intra-erythrocytic apicomplexan parasites Babesia canis (large form) and Babesia gibsoni (small form), throughout the globe. Apart from few sporadic reports on the occurrence of B. gibsoni infection in dogs, no attempt has been made to characterize Babesia spp. of dogs in India. Fifteen canine blood samples, positive for small form of Babesia, collected from northern to eastern parts of India, were used for amplification of 18S rRNA gene ($1665 bp) of Babesia sp. and partial ITS1 region ($254 bp) of B. gibsoni Asian genotype. Cloning and sequencing of the amplified products of each sample was performed separately. Based on sequences and phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA and ITS1 sequences, 13 were considered to be B. gibsoni. These thirteen isolates shared high sequence identity with each other and with B. gibsoni Asian genotype. The other two isolates could not be assigned to any particular species because of the difference(s) in 18S rRNA sequence with B. gibsoni and closer identity with Babesia occultans and Babesia orientalis. In the phylogenetic tree, all the isolates of B. gibsoni Asian genotype formed a separate major clade named as Babesia spp. sensu stricto clade with high bootstrap support. The two unnamed Babesia sp. (Malbazar and Ludhiana isolates) clustered close together with B. orientalis, Babesia sp. (Kashi 1 isolate) and B. occultans of bovines. It can be inferred from this study that 18S rRNA gene and ITS1 region are highly conserved among 13 B. gibsoni isolates from India. It is the maiden attempt of genetic characterization by sequencing of 18S rRNA gene and ITS1 region of B. gibsoni from India and is also the first record on the occurrence of an unknown Babesia sp. of dogs from south and south-east Asia.
Iranian Journal of Parasitology
Background: We aimed to detect and characterize vector-borne parasites of Babesia and Theileria in dog and ticks by PCR assay. Canine babesiosis is a significant tick-borne disease caused by different Babesia species. As the infection has not been reported in Shahriar region Tehran, Iran, molecular techniques allowed us to identify tick-borne parasites in asymptomatic dogs. Methods: The number of 40 dog peripheral blood samples and 27 skin attached ticks were analyzed by molecular PCR assay. The specific primers were used for detecting Babesia canis, B. gibsoni and T. annulata. Results: B. c. vogeli was detected in 10 dog blood samples (25%). Additionally, T. annulata infection was identified in 13 dog blood samples (32.5%) and 18 isolated tick DNAs (66.7%). The results of PCR were confirmed by 18S rRNA and Tams1 gene sequence analyzing and have been registered in GenBank under following accession numbers for B. c. vogeli (MH793502) and T. annulata (MK105284). Conclusion: The verif...
Journal of Parasitic Diseases, 2013
The objective of the study was to detect Babesia infections in pet dogs of a northeastern state of India. The diagnostic efficacy of Babesia infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique has been compared with microscopy examination. For this, a total of 111 blood samples of pet dogs presented at clinical complex of the College of Veterinary Science, Guwahati, Assam with clinical signs suspected for Babesia infection subjected to the study. A total of 44 (39.63 %) dogs were diagnosed as positive for Babesia infections after microscopic examination. Among these, Babesia canis infection was diagnosed in 5 dogs (4.50 %) and B. gibsoni infection in 39 (35.13 %) dogs microscopically in Giemsa stained blood smears. Molecular diagnosis using PCR detected 63 (56.75 %) dogs positive for Babesia infection. Single infection with B. canis was found in 9 (8.10 %) dogs while B. gibsoni alone was detected in 3 (2.70 %) dogs. Mixed infections by both these species were detected in 51 (45.94 %) dogs. Overall, PCR detected 54 (48.64 %) dogs as B. gibsoni and 60 (54.05 %) dogs as B. canis positive.
Veterinary Parasitology, 2008
Canine babesiosis, caused by intra-erythrocytic Babesia, is a tick-borne disease of worldwide importance. No information on canine babesiosis has been documented in Tunisia. Detection and analysis of Babesia species from naturally infected dogs and ticks recovered from dogs were attempted by reverse line blot hybridization and nucleotide sequence analysis based on 18S rRNA gene. Out of 180 blood samples collected from domestic dogs in 4 villages situated in different bioclimatic zones, 12 were positive for Babesia canis vogeli. In addition, a total of 160 Rhipicephalus sanguineus were analysed; only one male was infected by B. canis vogeli. This is the first report on the detection of DNA belonging to B. canis vogeli in domestic dogs and in R. sanguineus in Tunisia. #
Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases, 2021
Background: Canine babesiosis is one of the mainly worldwide-distributed tick-borne haemoprotozoan parasitic dis-eases in dogs. Methods: A total of 43 blood samples were randomly collected from naturally infected dogs in seven villages from different geographical areas of Meshkin Shahr, Ardabil Province, Iran. The presence of Babesia species detected with standard methods including parasitological and gene sequencing techniques targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Results: Our results revealed that four dogs 9.3% (4/43) including one female and three male dogs were infected with Babesia. All four Babesia-infected dogs were confirmed B. canis by the molecular-based method. Sequence alignments comparison of the B. canis genotypes A and B, it was revealed that all B. canis isolates belonged to genotype B. Conclusion: This study provides essential data for subsequently define the critical importance of the molecular studies in management and prevention of the canine babesiosis in Iran.