No abstract

Molecular methods coupled with phylogenetic analysis are sensitive tools for detecting and classifying parasites. This study used nuclear and mitochondrial gene markers to investigate the host-vector interaction of the vector-borne haemoparasites. The population genetic structures of important vector-borne haemoparasites in dogs, namely, Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia canis, Babesia vogeli, and Babesia gibsoni, were determined from the nuclear gene of 16S or 18S rRNA gene, gltA and groESL and mitochondrial gene of COX1 across dogs and vector ticks. A total of 220 blood samples and 140 ticks were collected from shelter dogs in Peninsular Malaysia. Out of the positive samples for the vector-borne haemoparasites, 28 positive blood isolates and six tick isolates were selected and characterised. There was a low diversity in tick sequences, while varying degree of variability was observed in dogs’ sequences. Overlapped haplotypes were observed in sequences of dogs and ticks, revealing the possibility of the same infection origin. No regional separation was detected, but similar haplotypes from different regions were observed. These findings contribute to the epidemiology of vector-borne haemoparasites in dogs in Malaysia.

Molecular methods coupled with phylogenetic analysis are sensitive tools for detecting and classifying parasites. This study used nuclear and mitochondrial gene markers to investigate the host-vector interaction of the vector-borne haemoparasites. The population genetic structures of important vector-borne haemoparasites in dogs, namely, Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia canis, Babesia vogeli, and Babesia gibsoni, were determined from the nuclear gene of 16S or 18S rRNA gene, gltA and groESL and mitochondrial gene of COX1 across dogs and vector ticks. A total of 220 blood samples and 140 ticks were collected from shelter dogs in Peninsular Malaysia. Out of the positive samples for the vector-borne haemoparasites, 28 positive blood isolates and six tick isolates were selected and characterised. There was a low diversity in tick sequences, while varying degree of variability was observed in dogs’ sequences. Overlapped haplotypes were observed in sequences of dogs and ticks, revealing the possibility of the same infection origin. No regional separation was detected, but similar haplotypes from different regions were observed. These findings contribute to the epidemiology of vector-borne haemoparasites in dogs in Malaysia.

Background Canine tick-borne haemopathogens (TBH) constitute a significant concern worldwide. The detection of these TBH is mainly achieved by microscopic evaluation, seroprevalence, and molecular detection. The present study was designed to investigate the molecular detection of Anaplasma platys , Babesia gibsoni, Babesia vogeli , and Ehrlichia canis in shelter dogs and Rhipicephalus sanguineus ( sensu lato ) ticks infesting them in Malaysia.Results A total of 220 blood samples and 140 ticks were collected from 10 animal shelters in Peninsular Malaysia. The presence of haemopathogens was detected using conventional PCR, sequenced, and identified at the species level. Of the 220 blood samples, 77 (35%) were positive with at least one of the four haemopathogens, of which E. canis predominated (20%) followed by B. gibsoni and B. vogeli both with detection of 7%, and A. platys (12%). In tick samples, 5 (3.57%) of the collected samples were positive with at least one of the three haemopathogens. Low detection of E. canis and A. platys were present (n = 2; 1.43%) as well as B. vogeli shows only 1 sample positive (0.71%) and no detection of B. gibsoni . For co-infection in dogs, single infection is common (24%), while co-infection with two haemopathogens (10%) was also observed. The occurrence of infection with three TBH was also observed in the sampled dogs (1%).Conclusion E. canis is the most common TBH affecting shelter dogs in Peninsular Malaysia. Co-infection is quite common and the most common co-infection present was E. canis and A. platys. The study highlighted the first extensive molecular detection of TBH in dogs and R. sanguineus ( sensu lato ) ticks in Malaysia