Vol. 10, Special Issue 11 (2021)

Author(s):
Deepa CK, Anju Varghese, Ajith Kumar KG, Dinesh CN, Sanis Juliet, Sindhu OK, Gatchanda Shravan Kumar, Prabodh Kumar Hembram and Reghu Ravindran

Abstract:
Babesia gibsoni is an important intraerythrocytic haemoprotozoan parasite causing babesiosis in canines. The present study was conducted to detect the presence of B. gibsoni in dogs using Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting18srRNA and Hsp 70 gene. Fifty blood smears were stained by Giemsa’s staining technique. On microscopical examination, five samples were positive for B. gibsoni piroplasm. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed Babesia genus specific ~1665 bp fragment of 18S ribosomal RNA gene fragment amplified in 15 out of 50 samples, while the ~1938 bp B. gibsoni specific heat shock protein gene (BgHSP 70) could be amplified in ten samples. Hence PCR targeting 18S rRNA was more sensitive, however, it may not differentiate the species of canine Babesia in blood samples.