PCR based identification of Babesia canis vogeli in clinically affected dogs

Canine babesiosis is a clinically important disease encountered around the globe. In India, the disease, caused by large form of Babesia is thought to be exclusively due to B. canis, which is identified on the basis of microscopic examination of blood smears. It is now well accepted that B. canis of dogs across the world may look similar but vary in geographical distribution, tick vector preference, immunogenicity and pathogenicity. The present study was undertaken in three clinical cases of babesiosis from northern India to identify the parasite at subspecies level. PCR based amplification of target DNA using specific primers for different subspecies of B. canis revealed the presence of B. canis vogeli in all the three cases.