title: Detection and molecular characterization of canine babesiosis causative agent Babesia canis in the naturally infected dog in Lithuania.
abstract: Canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis is an emerging infectious disease in Europe. Although previously uncommon, canine babesiosis has become quite frequent in Lithuania during the past decade. In the last few years an increasing number of cases with a wide variety of clinical signs have been recorded throughout the country. In Lithuania the identification of the disease agent in veterinarian clinics is based on a microscopic analysis of size and morphology. To date, no data on the genetic characterization of Babesia species in dogs have been documented for Lithuania. A total of 123 blood samples from dogs showing clinical signs of babesiosis on the basis of veterinary examination were tested for the presence of babesial parasites. Babesia isolated from dogs were detected and characterized by nested-PCR and sequence analysis of a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene. Babesia parasites were detected in blood smears of 94 dogs (76.4%). The molecular analysis revealed the presence of B. canis in 108 dogs (87.8%). Two genotypes of B. canis were distinguished on the basis on two nucleotide (GA → AG) substitutions observed in 18S rRNA gene sequences. The results of the present study provide knowledge of the distribution of B. canis genotypes in dogs in Lithuania, and show the necessity to use a molecular analysis for an accurate diagnosis of canine babesiosis.
authors.affiliation: Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos str. 8, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania. Electronic address: a.paulauskas@gmf.vdu.lt.
authors.forename: Algimantas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paulauskas
authors.affiliation: Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos str. 8, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radzijevskaja
authors.affiliation: Dr. L. Kriaučeliūnas Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania; Department of Infectious Diseases, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Birutė
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karvelienė
authors.affiliation: Dr. L. Kriaučeliūnas Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Aidas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grigonis
authors.affiliation: Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos str. 8, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Asta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aleksandravičienė
authors.affiliation: Dr. L. Kriaučeliūnas Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Gintaras
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zamokas
authors.affiliation: Dr. L. Kriaučeliūnas Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania; Department of Infectious Diseases, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Babickaitė
authors.affiliation: "Siaurio Šnauceris" Small Animal Clinic, Chemijos av. 31A, LT-44001 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Vytautas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sabūnas
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Saulius
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petkevičius
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D001483:Base Sequence; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D005838:Genotype; D008097:Lithuania; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
keywords: Babesia canis; Canine babesiosis; Detection and molecular characterization; Lithuania