Survey and Molecular Study of Babesia gibsoni in Dogs of Baghdad Province, Iraq

Naseir M Badawi,Afaf A Yousif

doi:10.30539/ijvm.v44i(e0).1019

Naseir M Badawi, Afaf A Yousif

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.30539/ijvm.v44i(e0).1019

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Abstract

This study aimed to detect Babesia gibsoni (B. gibsoni) in dogs of different ages, sex and breeds in Baghdad province by microscopic and molecular investigations using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses. The present study was investigated B. gibsoni in 310 blood samples of dogs for the period from December 2018 to September 2019 in Baghdad province, Iraq. The molecular study was carried out by using universal primers of Babesia spp. (PIRO-A and PIRO-B) and specific primers of B. gibsoni (BAGIF and BAGIR) products size of 410 bp and 488 bp fragments of 18S rRNA gene respectively. The clinical signs revealed higher percentage and specific clinical signs of B. gibsoni as depression, anorexia, fever, pale mucus membrane, and ticks infestation, however icterus, and dead were low in which only occurred in two dogs out of infected dogs. The PCR assay and microscopic diagnosis revealed the infection rate of B. gibsoni 9 out of 310 (2.9%) in dogs. The sequence data analyses of nine DNA products were 98-100% similar to sequences of 18S rRNA gene of B. gibsoni data available in Gene bank. According to breed, age, and sex, the results revealed a significantly high-risk factor of infection in Husky dogs; B. gibsoni detected in females which was increased non-significantly than males; while the highest occurrence of disease was in young dogs aged three years or less in addition to the above, the infection rate of B. gibsoni was high in spring season. In conclusion, this study was considered the first molecular record of B. gibsoni in Baghdad, Iraq documented no differences in diagnosis by blood smear and conventional PCR to amplify of 18S rRNA gene and partial sequencing of B. gibsoni with low-cost method and easily done.

Highlights

Canine babesiosis is an important disease was distributed globally [1] which was recorded in Africa for the first time in 1896 as an intra-erythrocyte parasite of dog associated with clinical signs, while, it was firstly documented in United States in 1934
The common canine Babesia spp. is classified into two different species: the large Babesia canis (2.4-3×4-7 μm), that has a pear shape and small Babesia gibsoni (1-2×3-4 μm) that has an annular shape [2], Babesia gibsoni (B. gibsoni) is a small parasite has a shape of single ring or pyriform bodies [3]
The small piroplasm is an oval or annular shape that occupies more than 1/8 of the diameter of red blood cells [4]. It is caused by canine babesiosis which is transmitted by Haemaphysalis bispinosa and Haemaphysalis Longicornis [2], the causative agent leads to anemia, fever, jaundice, thrombocytopenia and possible urinary system abnormalities [5], causing acute form disease which results in serious clinical problems, fever, regenerative anemia, Iraqi J

Summary

Introduction

Canine babesiosis is an important disease was distributed globally [1] which was recorded in Africa for the first time in 1896 as an intra-erythrocyte parasite of dog associated with clinical signs, while, it was firstly documented in United States in 1934. The small piroplasm is an oval or annular shape that occupies more than 1/8 of the diameter of red blood cells [4]. It is caused by canine babesiosis which is transmitted by Haemaphysalis bispinosa and Haemaphysalis Longicornis [2], the causative agent leads to anemia, fever, jaundice, thrombocytopenia and possible urinary system abnormalities [5], causing acute form disease which results in serious clinical problems, fever, regenerative anemia, Iraqi J.

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