Occurrence of different strains of Babesia canis in dogs in eastern Poland

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to carry out a genetic analysis of Babesia canis isolates detected in dogs in eastern Poland and to study the correlation of the protozoa variant with a specific geographical region. Material and Methods: PCR was used to identify strains of B. canis from naturally infected animals (240 dogs from four provinces: Mazowieckie, Lublin, Podlasie, and Podkarpacie) by amplifying and sequencing a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene. Results: Sequencing the PCR products led to the identification of four variants of B. canis. Two previously described protozoa variants (18S rRNA-A and 18S rRNA-B) were observed in all provinces. Additionally, in the Mazowieckie and Lublin provinces a B. canis variant which contributed to the development of acute or atypical babesiosis was observed. The fourth variant of B. canis was detected only in dogs from the Lublin province, and the course of the disease was subclinical in all dogs infected with this variant. Conclusion: These results indicate the appearance of a new fourth B. canis genotype in Poland and confirm that it is still necessary to study the relationships between the genetic structure of protozoa, geographical distribution of the parasites, and clinical course of the disease.

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Canine Babesiosis Causative Agent Babesia canis in Naturally Infected Dogs in the Dobrogea Area (Southeastern Romania)

“…Thus, when comparing their Slovenian samples to the reference AY072926, Duh et al [ 30 ] found three genotypes differing at two consecutive positions, 609 and 610 (GA/AG/AA), of the complete gene [ 29 , 30 ]. Since then, other molecular surveys have reported on this single-nucleotide polymorphism as an intra-specific genetic variation of B. canis isolates from different European countries, such as Poland [ 33 , 47 ], Croatia [ 34 ], Switzerland [ 48 ], Lithuania [ 39 , 49 ], Latvia [ 41 ], and Russia [ 32 ].…”

“…The GA variant, displaying guanine and adenine at the aforementioned positions, was found in our study as a single infection in only two samples (9.1%). This genetic variant was detected for the first time in Romanian dogs but is considered common in other European countries where it is found most often, such as Croatia, at 58.1% (57/98 isolates); Poland, at 44.6% (107/240 isolates); and Lithuania, at 34.2% (13/38 isolates) [ 34 , 39 , 47 ].…”

“…Of these, the GA (107 isolates), AG (84 isolates), and TT (7 isolates) genotypes were associated with acute babesiosis. In contrast, representatives of the TT (31 isolates) and fourth (11 isolates) groups were associated with atypical and subclinical babesiosis, respectively [ 47 ]. Similar studies analyzing the clinicopathological findings in 26 symptomatic dogs with acute babesiosis did not determine any relationship between the B. canis genotypes GA/RR and the disease’s severity [ 41 ].…”

The First Records of Canine Babesiosis in Dogs from Dermacentor reticulatus—Free Zone in Poland

“…In the last years, the number of canine babesiosis incidents in Poland and in other Central European countries has increased [6,7,12,14]. This situation is probably a result of the rapid development of tourism with companion animals, such as domestic dogs and cats, and the wider spreading of ticks and B. canis vectors to new locations [33,34].…”

Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences

“…Babesiosis is a tick-transmitted disease caused by piroplasms of the genus Babesia and characterized by haemolytic anaemia and fever, with occasional haemoglobinuria and death (Zygner et al 2013). Ticks may be able to transmit a number of piroplasms species to cattle (B. bigemina, B. bovis), horses (B. caballi, Thieleria equi), cats (B. cati, B. felis), dogs (B. canis, B. gibsoni, B. rossi, B. vogeli, and B. vulpes), and humans (B. divergens, B. durcani, B. microti, and B. venatorum) (Adaszek and Winiarczyk 2008, Adaszek et al 2009, Łyp et al 2016. In Europe two large canine Babesia species (B. canis and B. vogeli) are the most frequently detected piroplasms in domestic dogs.…”