Molecular Detection of Canine Babesiosis in and Around Bhubaneswar, India

Abstract

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.