Author/Editor     Duh, Darja; Tozon, Nataša; Petrovec, Miroslav; Strašek, Katja; Avšič-Županc, Tatjana
Title     Canine babesiosis in Slovenia: molecular evidence of Babesia canis and Babesia canis vogeli
Type     članek
Source     Vet Res
Vol. and No.     Letnik 35, št. 3
Publication year     2004
Volume     str. 363-8
Language     eng
Abstract     Canine babesiosis, caused by intraerythrocytic Babesia spp., is a tick-borne disease of worldwide importance. No information on canine babesiosis has been documented in Slovenia. Therefore, 238 dogs admitted to the Small animal clinic in Ljubljana from the years 2000 to 2002 were tested for the presence of babesial parasites in the blood. Based on clinical, microscopic and molecular investigations, 14 dogs (5.9%) were determined as being infected with babesiae. Clinical signs relating to acute haemolysis, fever, anorexia, depression and haematological abnormalities such as anaemia and thrombocytopenia were noticed in most of the 14 infected dogs. The morphology of the parasites was indicative of Babesia canis infection. Two subspecies were detected, namely B. canis canis (11 dogs, 4.6%) and B. canis vogeli (3 dogs, 1.3%) using PCR and subsequent sequence analysis of portions of nns rRNA gene. In addition, based on nucleotide sequence analysis, the 11 isolates of B. c. canis could be subdivided into three groups, whereas the three B. c. vogeli isolates were genetically identical. The results of this study demonstrate the presence of canine babesiosis due to B. c. canis and B. c. vogeli in Slovenia.
Descriptors     BABESIOSIS
BABESIA
DOGS
POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION
BASE SEQUENCE
SEQUENCE ANALYSIS, DNA
PHYLOGENY
SLOVENIA