Blood, Bull Terriers and Babesiosis: further evidence for direct transmission of Babesia gibsoni in dogs.
This study reports on the epidemiology of Babesia gibsoni in American Pit Bull Terriers living in a region of western Victoria in southern Australia. Both American Pit Bull Terriers (n = 100) and other dog breeds (n = 51) were screened for B gibsoni using immunofluorescent antibody testing (IFAT) and/or polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). A questionnaire was also completed by each dog owner, ascertaining the husbandry and habits of the dogs sampled. Fourteen dogs were positive for B gibsoni using IFAT and/or PCR-RFLP and all were American Pit Bull Terriers. Dogs that were male and/or had been bitten by or were biters of other American Pit Bull Terriers were more likely to be B gibsoni positive, thus suggesting that blood-to-blood transmission contributes to the spread of this disease between dogs.
Jefferies
R
R
Australasian Centre for Companion Animal Research, Division of Health Sciences, Murdoch University, WA 6150, Australia.
Ryan
U M
UM
Jardine
J
J
Broughton
D K
DK
Robertson
I D
ID
Irwin
P J
PJ
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000469:parasitology; D001947:Breeding; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004247:DNA