Prevalence of Babesia spp. and clinical characteristics of Babesia vulpes infections in North American dogs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Babesiosis is an important cause of thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia in dogs. Babesia vulpes, reported in European dogs and North American foxes, rarely has been reported in domestic North American dogs. Newly optimized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers facilitate more sensitive amplification of B. vulpes DNA.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of Babesia sp. infections in dogs being tested for Babesia infection, and to describe co-infections and clinicopathologic abnormalities in B. vulpes positive dogs.

Animals

Dog blood or tissue samples (n = 9367) submitted to a diagnostic laboratory between June 2015 and June 2018 were tested using an optimized Babesia PCR assay.

Methods

Comprehensive canine vector-borne disease diagnostic testing

SUBMITTER: Barash NR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6766513 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature