Vol. 12, Issue 10 (2023)

Author(s):
Soundarya TC, Anil Kumar MC, Kshama MA, Pavithra BH, Shivaraj Murag and Anjan Kumar KR

Abstract:
Canine babesiosis is a serious disease that affects domestic and wild canids worldwide. It is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Babesia, family Babesiidae, Order Piroplasmida, within the phylum Apicomplexa. The most common species that cause canine babesiosis include Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni, which could be differentiated based on their size within the parasitized erythrocytes. Babesia canis is the large form (2.5-5.0 µm), while Babesia gibsoni is a small pleomorphic organism (1-2.5 µm) and appears most commonly as ring form (Obeta, 2020). Incidence of Babesia gibsoni was estimated by history, clinical signs and presence of B. gibsoni organisms in the geimsa stained blood smear and by PCR. A total of 136 suspected cases were examined out of which 64 cases were positive for B. gibsoni accounting to an incidence of 47.05 percent. Out of 136 samples screened 64 (47.05%) cases and 19 (13.97%) cases were positive by PCR and blood microscopy respectively. Higher incidence was observed in the age group of 1-3 years, breed wise in Labrador Retreivers and gender wise in male dogs and season wise in summer season.