Abstract
Several local studies have examined evidence of blood parasites in different animals in Mosul; however, information about the most prevalent parasite and the seasonality of the infection remains limited. The objective of the study conducted here was to investigate the proportion and seasonality of blood parasites in animals in Mosul using the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Lab data. Laboratory records for a period of 25 months were used for data retrieval. In all included animals, Giemsa-stained blood smears were examined by an attending clinical pathologist for the presence of parasites. Seasons were assigned on a basis of examination date, and the seasonality was quantified by estimating season-to-season ratio. The results indicated that 61.77% of examined animals were tested positive for blood parasites. The most evident parasites were Trypanosoma spp., Theileria spp., Babesia spp., and then Anaplasma spp., with evidence of mixed infection. The odds of the infection did not significantly vary in different age groups. There was a marked linear pattern in the seasonality of the infection with Trypanosoma spp. and Anaplasma spp. An increase of the infection during spring and autumn with Theileria spp. and Babesia spp. was also evident. In conclusion, infection with blood parasites in different animals in Mosul is common with substantial burden, the effect of age-related infection is negligible, and the seasonality of the infection is evident.
Highlights
Blood parasites are frequently diagnosed in different animals examined at the University of Mosul’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital lab
Animals examined at the University of Mosul Veterinary Teaching Hospital clinical pathology laboratory for evidence of blood parasites in blood smears were considered for inclusion in this study
Trypanosoma spp. was the most evident blood parasite in ruminants, Theileria spp. was frequently reported in all tested animals except dogs, Babesia spp. constituted the most blood parasite diagnosed in blood smears from dogs, and Anaplasma spp. was detected in cattle only (Table 1)
Summary
Blood parasites are frequently diagnosed in different animals examined at the University of Mosul’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital lab. Most previous studies such as those by Al-Obaidi and Alsaad [4], AlSaad and AL-Mola [6], Alsaad et al [14], and Al-Badrani [15] have focused on studying the clinical and hematological effects of blood parasites on affected animals rather than epidemiological evidence of the infection. The objective of the study conducted here was to investigate the proportion and seasonality of blood parasites in animals in Mosul using the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Lab data. This hospital is one of the main veterinary clinics in Mosul city and receives animals raised in Nineveh governorate, Iraq, Mosul city and its countryside. Records of this hospital have been identified as a source for studying some epidemiological factors of diseases in animals [1]
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