title: The first evidence for vertical transmission of Babesia canis in a litter of Central Asian Shepherd dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tick-borne infections constitute an increasing health problem in dogs and may lead to death, especially in young or elderly individuals. Canine babesiosis constitutes a serious health problem in dogs worldwide. The aim of the study was to verify the probability of vertical transmission of Babesia canis between the bitch and the pups.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Autumn 2011, cases of babesiosis were diagnosed in a litter of 6-week-old puppies of a Central Asian Shepherd dog. Immediately following the first case of infection, blood samples were collected from all the pups in the litter (n=10) and from the female. Detection of Babesia infection was performed by molecular and microscopical techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of B. canis DNA was detected using PCR in three pups, presenting at the time or 24-48 hours later with babesiosis symptoms, and in their asymptomatic mother. The isolates derived from the pups and the female - 520 bp 18S rRNA gene fragment - were compared and analyzed. All isolates from the pups and their mother were identical and showed 100% homology with B. canis group B (EU622793), supporting the same source of infection. Additionally, the USG of the peritoneal cavity was performed in the female, presenting evidence for splenomegaly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of (1) the same timing of three pup cases; (2) the identical B. canis sequences derived from all positive dogs; (3) evident splenomegaly in the asymptomatic female, this provides the first evidence of the vertical transmission of this piroplasm in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Mierzejewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Welc-Falęciak
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bednarska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodo
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bajer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D003870:Dermacentor / Q000502:physiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011044:Poland; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S