Epidemiologic and clinical surveys in dogs infected with Babesia gibsoni in South Korea.
Clinically diagnosed cases of Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs were evaluated on the basis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results and nucleotide sequences of the 18S rRNA gene. Twenty-nine of 117 submitted dogs were PCR positive. The breed of dogs infected with B. gibsoni varied; however, pit bull terriers were the breed most often infected. The infection rate was higher in densely populated regions and in male dogs. Young dogs (age < 3 years) were more sensitive to B. gibsoni infection, and 6 out of the 29 infected dogs had a history of tick exposure. The clinical signs observed during physical examination were related to canine babesiosis, and many dogs showed symptoms similar to those associated with anemia. The results of hematologic analysis revealed severe hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia in the infected dogs. However, the blood smears of 29 infected dogs showed very low levels of parasitemia. Nucleotide sequencing of the PCR products revealed that the 18S rRNA gene sequences of B. gibsoni in South Korea were very close to those reported in Spain, Japan, and the United States.
Lee
Mi-Jin
MJ
Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 561-756 Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, Korea.
Yu
Do-Hyeon
DH
Yoon
Ji-Seon
JS
Li
Ying-Hua
YH
Lee
Jong-Hyeon
JH
Chae
Joon-Seok
JS
Park
Jinho
J
D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001483:Base Sequence; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013987:Ticks / Q000469:parasitology
D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S