Studies on prevalence and molecular characterization of mixed Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs of Jammu, India

The present study was conducted on dogs presented to Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu, between March 2015 and December 2016. A total number of 5711 dogs were presented for treatment of various ailments and in health examination at Small Animal Medicine OPD of Referral Veterinary Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu. Out of which 200 dogs were suspected to be suffering from TBD’s were screened and 100 dogs were found positive for different TBD’s and 5 were found positive for mixed Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni infection. The prevalence of mixed Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni infection was found to be 5 percent (based on PCR) with maximum occurrence in monsoon season. PCR was performed using standard protocol. No case was found positive in giemsa stained thin blood smear. Dogs in the age group of (1 - 5 year) found most susceptible (60%) to mixed Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni. No systematic effort through conducting a planned study of dog population in the region has been done till date so present work was undertaken to determine prevalence of mixed Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni. It was concluded mixed Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni infection is present in this region and causes fatal disease in canines of this region.