Canine Babesioses in Noninvestigated Areas of Serbia

Abstract

During the years 2012-2014, a total of 158 outdoor dogs from Pančevo and Đurđevo (northern Serbia) and Niš and Prokuplje (southern Serbia) were submitted to molecular analyses (PCR and sequencing) for canine babesioses. An overall prevalence of 21.5% was found, due to the species Babesia sp. 'spanish dog' (10.1%), B. gibsoni (5.7%), B. canis vogeli (1.9%), B. caballi (1.9%), and B. microti (1.9%). In addition, sequence analysis showed the presence of Hepatozoon canis in a dog from Niš. No significant difference between infected and noninfected dogs was found by age, sex, and place of residence, whereas there was difference regarding the presence of ticks (p<0.005) and application of preventive measures such as applying of antitick drugs/devices. Moreover, a significant difference was established by area: Dogs from Prokuplje showed infection rates (59.1%) higher than dogs from Pančevo (11.9%), Niš (4.5), and Đurđevo (where infected dogs were not found), and a different geographical distribution of the species was found. The presence of so many Babesia species and the first identification of H. canis will allow investigations on the pathogenic role played by each one and suggests entomological studies on the tick species that are more suitable vectors for each of them. Finally, the presence of so many infected dogs offers the opportunity of evaluating the hypothesis of a possible zoonotic role of babesial species affecting dogs.

Canine Babesiosis: Where Do We Stand?

“…In Europe, DNA sequences of Babesia vogeli were found in Slovenia [51], Albania [48], France [63], Spain [64], Portugal [65] and Croatia [23] with prevalence from 0.01% in Spain, 0.9% in France to 1.3% in Slovenia, 1.9% in Serbia [66], and 16.3% in Central and Southern Italy [67]. Interestingly, in the research conducted in Croatia, the higher prevalence of B. vogeli is observed in asymptomatic dogs (7%) versus symptomatic dogs (1.3 %) [23].…”

“…Among small Babesia species, Babesia microti-like sp. isolates have been identifi ed in Portugal [76], Spain [77], France [78], Croatia [23], Serbia [66] and Sweden [79]. Table 1 presents Babesia species currently identifi ed in dogs with relevant vector tick species and geographical distribution.…”

Malaria in children of Tshimbulu (Western Kasai, Democratic Republic of the Congo): epidemiological data and accuracy of diagnostic assays applied in a limited resource setting

“…In addition, having the MA2 detect the presence of Babesia spp. in several blood samples, the corresponding DNA were further amplified using the primers CRYPTO F (5′-AACCTGGTTGATCCTGCCAGT-3′) and RLB-R2 (5′-CTA AGA ATT TCA CCT CTG ACA GT-3′), which amplify a fragment of approximately 800 bp of the piroplasm 18S ribosomal RNA, using the previously described protocol [ 14 ]. Amplicons were then sequenced and aligned as above.…”

Hаematologic indices in clinically healthy outdoor dogs exposed to vector-borne pathogens

“…The epidemiology of canine vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) is commonly investigated in asymptomatic outdoor dogs in Serbia (Gabrielli et al, 2015;Obrenović et al, 2015). Often, the studies included shelter, but also stray and hunting dogs (Spasojević-Kosić et al, 2015).…”