Vol. 13, Issue 10 (2024)

Author(s):
Sreenidhi NC, Geethu R, Anaswara A, Deepa CK, Anju Varghese, Ajith Kumar KG and Reghu Ravindran

Abstract:
Babesia gibsoni, the intraerythrocytic haemoprtozoan parasite causes canine babesiosis globally. The present study was conducted to study the presence of B. gibsoni in dogs in and around Kannur district, northern Kerala, targeting Babesia gibsoni thrombospondin related adhesive protein (BgTRAP) gene. Peripheral smears were collected from dogs with a history of pyrexia. Microscopical examination of peripheral blood smears from the dogs were done using Giemsa staining technique. On microscopical examination 15.00 percent (6 /40) samples were positive for B. gibsoni piroplasms in RBCs. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed an amplification at 855 bp targeting BgTRAP gene with a prevalence of 37.50 percent (15 /40) samples.