Molecular characterization of Babesia vogeli and Ehrlichia canis isolates

Canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis are among the most pathogenic tick transmitted diseases of dogs worldwide. Several reports on varying genotypes of the etiological agents in different geographical locations have prompted the present study to analyse the small subunit ribosomal gene sequence of these pathogens. The occurrence of Babesia vogeli and Ehrlichia canis was identified in 22.66% and 16.66% of the study population, respectively, using separate PCR assays targeting the small subunit rDNA gene. The evolutionary relationship of these isolates was also analysed based on the nucleotide sequences adopting maximum likelihood method. The results of this preliminary study would enable extensive molecular epidemiological studies of these pathogenic parasites affecting dogs of the state.