A survey on Babesia infection in dogs of urban and rural regions of Tabriz city, Iran

Document Type : Full Research Paper

Authors

1 DVM, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

2 Professor-Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor- Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

4 Parasitology MSc,Tabriz Research Center of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Tabriz, Iran.

5 Professor-Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

Abstract

Canine babesiosis is an important disease caused by Babesia spp. and is of healthy importance and cosmopolitan distribution. This disease was initially considered as a tropical and subtropical disease. Recently, increasing occurrence of canine babesiosis has also been detected on temperate areas of the world. The aim of present study was survey on frequency of canine babesiosis in dogs from Tabriz and suburb. A total of 121 blood samples were randomly taken from dogs. Babesia Infection was survived with microscopic examination of thin layer smears from peripheral blood and amplification of 416 bp fragment of 18S rDNA using molecular method. Out of 22(18.2%) and 8(6.6%) of 121 blood samples were positive for Babesia in all study areas in molecular and microscopic survey, respectively. Commercial (28.6%), male (19.2%) and 2> years old (21.1%) dogs had the highest infection rates. No significant differences were found between geographic distribution of infection and obtained data. In this study, it was indicated that molecular detection of canine babesiosis is of more efficiency than microscopic method and further supplemental surveys is suggested.

Keywords


1. Jefferies R, Ryan UM, Muhlnickel CJ, Irwi PJ. Two Species of canine Babesia in Australia: Detection and Characterization by PCR. J Parasitol 2003; 89(2): 409-412.
2. Shaw ES, Day JM. Arthropod-borne infectious diseases of dog and cat. 1st edn. Manson Press, United Kingdom, 2005; 63–67.
3. Ashrafi Helan J, Haddadzadeh HR, Shirani D, Khazraiinia P, Mostofi S. Histopathologic, hematologic and clinical study on canine Babesiosis. J Fac Vet Med 2001; 56(3): 93–96. (Text in Persian)
4. Kuttler KL, Zaugg JL, Yunker CE. The pathogenicity and immunologic relationship of a virulent and a tissue-culture-adapted Babesia bovis. Vet Parasitol 1988; 27: 239-244.
5. Mathe A, Voros K, Papp L, Reiczigel J. Clinical manifestations of canine Babesiosis in Hungary (63 cases). Acta Vet Hung 2006; 54: 367–385.
6. Neer TM, Harrus SH. Canine monocytotropic ehrlichiosis and neorickettsiosis. In: Greene CE (ed) Infectious diseases of the dog and cat, 3rd edn. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 2006; 203–219.
7. Zygner W, Gjska O, Rapacka G, Jaros D, Wedrychowicz H. Hematological changes during the course of canine Babesiosis caused by large Babesia in domestic dogs in Warsaw (Poland). Vet Parasitol. 2007; 145: 146–151.
8. Boozer AL, Macintire DK. Canine babesiosis. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2003; 33: 885–904.
9. Razi-jalali MH, Mosallanejad B, Avizeh R, Alborzi1 AR, Hamidi-Nejat H, Taghipour R. Babesia infection in urban and rural dogs in Ahvaz district, Southwest of Iran. Arch Razi Inst. 2013; 68(1): 37-42.
10. Kjemtrup AM, Kocan AA, Whitworth L, Meinkoth J, Birkenheuer AJ, Cummings J, Boudreaux MK, Stockham SL, Irizarry-Rovira A, Conrad PA. There are at least three genetically distinct small piroplasms from dogs. Inter J Parasitol. 2000a; 30: 1501–1505.
11. Foldvari G, Hell E, Farkas R. Babesia canis in dogs from Hungary: detection by PCR and sequencing. Vet Parasitol. 2005; 127: 221–226.
12. Leschnik M, Kirtz G, Tichy A, Leidinger E. Seasonal occurrence of canine Babesiosis is influenced by local climate conditions. Inter J Med Microb. 2008; 298: 243–248.
13. Maia MG, Costa RT, Haddad JPA, Passos LMF, Ribeiro McFB. Epidemiological aspects of canine Babesiosis in the semiarid area of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Prev Vet Med. 2007; 79: 155–162.
14. Niak A, Anwar M, Khatibi S. Canine Babesiosis in Iran. Trop Anim Health Prod. 1973; 5: 200-201.
15. Bigdeli M, Rafie S, Namavari M, Jamshidi Sh. Report of Theileria annulata and Babesia canis infections in dogs. Comp Clin Pathol. 2012; 21:375-377.
16. Criado-Fornelio A, Gonzalez-del-Rio MA, Buling-Sarana A, Barba-Carretero JC. The “Expanding Universe” of Piroplasmas. Vet Parasitol. 2004; 119(43): 337-345.
17. O’Dwyer LH, Lopes VVA, Rubini AS, Paduan KDS, Ribolla PEM. Babesia spp. infection in dogs from rural areas of Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet Jaboticabal. 2009; 18(2): 23-26.
18. Birkenheuer AJ, Levi MG, Breitschwerdt EB. Development and evaluation of a seminested PCR for detection and differentiation of Babesia gibsoni (Asian genotype) and B. canis DNA in canine blood samples. J Clin Microb. 2003; 41(9): 4172-4177.
19 Sadeghi Dehkordi Z, Zakeri S, Nabian S, Bahonar A, Ghasemi F, Noorollahi F, Rahbari S. Molecular and biomorphometrical identification of ovine babesiosis in Iran. Iranian J Parasitol. 2010; 5(4): 21-30.
20. Yamane I, Thomford JW, Gardner IA, Dubey JP, Levy M, Conrad PA. Evaluation of the indirect fluorescent antibody test for diagnosis of Babesia gibsoni infections in dogs. Am J Vet Res. 1993; 54: 1579-1584.
21. Martin AR, Dunstan RH, Roberts TK, Brown GK. Babesia
canis vogeli: a novel PCR for its detection in dogs in Australia. Exp Parasitol. 2006; 112: 63-65.
22. Zahler M, Rinder H, Schein E, Gothe R. Detection of a new pathogenic Babesia microti-like species in dogs. Vet Parasitol. 2000a; 89, 241–248.
23. Zahler M, Rnder H, Zweygarth E, Fukata T, Maede Y, Schein E, Gothe R.‘‘Babesia gibsoni’’ of dogs from North America and Asia belong to different species. Parasitol. 2000b; 120:365–369.
24. Konvalinova J, Rudolf I, Silvie S, Hubalek Zd, Svobodova V, Svoboda M. Contribution to canine babesiosis in the Czech Republic. ACTA VET BRNO. 2012; 81: 091–095.
25. Maia MG, Costa RT, Haddad JPA, Passos LMF, Ribeiro McFB. Epidemiological aspects of canine Babesiosis in the semiarid area of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Prev Vet Med. 2007; 79: 155-162.
26. Bashir N, Chaudhry ZI, Ahmed S, Saeed MA. Epidemiological and vector identification studies on canine babesiosis. Pak Vet J. 2009; 29(2): 51-54.
27. Omudu EA, Bernard O, Ayashar JG. Epidemiological survey of canine babesiosis in Makurdi, Nig Anim Res Inter. 2007; 4(3): 745-749.
28. Ilie MS, Darabus G, Imre K, Hotea I. Survey of canine babesiosis in Banat area. Bullen UASVM Vet Med 2010; 67(2): 125-130.
29. Bourdoiseau G. Canine babesiosis in France. Vet Parasitol. 2006; 138: 118–125.
30. Adaszeka L, Martinez AC, Winiarczyk S. The factors affecting the distribution of babesiosis in dogs in Poland. Vet Parasitol. 2011; 181: 160-165.