Confirmation of occurrence of Babesia canis vogeli in domestic dogs in South Africa.
The prevalence of Babesia infections in domestic dogs in South Africa was studied using reverse line blot hybridization and 18S sequence analysis. Babesia canis vogeli was confirmed for the first time in domestic dogs in South Africa. Out of a total of 297 blood samples collected from domestic dogs in Bloemfontein, East London, Johannesburg, Durban and from the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital, 31 were positive for Babesia canis rossi, whereas B. c. vogeli was detected in 13 dogs. None of the dogs carried both parasites. The detection of B. c. vogeli has implications with regard to prevalence and varied clinical manifestation of canine babesiosis in South Africa.
Matjila
P T
PT
Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, 0110 Onderstepoort, South Africa. tshepo.matjila@up.ac.za
Penzhorn
B L
BL
Bekker
C P J
CP
Nijhof
A M
AM
Jongejan
F
F
D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S