Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) are natural hosts of Babesia rossi, the virulent causative agent of canine babesiosis in sub-Saharan Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Babesia rossi, which is transmitted by Haemaphysalis spp. and is highly virulent to domestic dogs, occurs only in sub-Saharan Africa. Since dogs are not native to the region, it has been postulated that the natural host of B. rossi is an indigenous African canid. Although various attempts at artificial infection indicated that black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) could become subclinically infected with B. rossi, data on occurrence of B. rossi in free-ranging jackals was lacking. A long-term behaviour study in which free-ranging black-backed jackals were radio-collared offered the opportunity of collecting blood specimens from a large number of free-ranging jackals.

Methods

Genomic DNA was extracted from the EDTA blood samples (n = 107). PCR products were subjec

SUBMITTER: Penzhorn BL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5346843 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature