Prevalence of haemoparasites in pet, working and stray dogs of Assam and North-East India: A hospital based study

Abstract

Aim: This research work is aimed to find out the prevalence of haemoparasitic infections in different categories of dogs.Materials and Methods: Out of 2104 dogs registered in the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex of the College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, Guwahati during January 2009 to December 2010, blood of 424 cases suspected for haemoparasites on the basis of clinical history were microscopically examined in wet blood film and giemsa stained blood smears. Results:The prevalence was 57.31% in the hospital population comprising pet (58.03%) and working (54.54%) dogs and 63.64% in stray dog population. A total of 7 species viz. Babesia gibsoni (47.16%), Ehrlichia (Anaplasma) platys (8.49%), Dirofilaria immitis (2.83%), Ehrlichia canis (2.12%), Babesia canis (1.41%), Hepatozoon canis (1.41%) and Ehrlichia ewingii (0.47%) in single or mixed infections were recorded. B. gibsoni was found to be most predominant haemoprotozoan species. However, B. canis, the large form of Babesia was detected in very few dogs. Similarly, inclusion of E. platys inside blood platelets, although rare in occurrence, was more easily detectable than that of E. canis inside the monocytes and lymphocytes. Infection with D. immitis in pet dogs (2.38%) was comparatively lower than in working dogs (4.54%) and found in single and mixed infections with B. gibsoni, B. canis and E. platys. Hepatozoon canis was recorded in 6 hospital dogs either in single or mixed infection with B. gibsoni and E. platys. Six species of haemoparasites namely B. gibsoni (47.72%), D. immitis (27.27%), E. platys (4.54%), E. canis (2.27%), E. ewingii (2.27%) and H. canis (2.27%) were detected in blood of stray dogs. Trypanosoma evansi as recorded in dogs from other parts of the country was not detected in this study. Conclusion:Present findings led to a significant conclusion that Assam and adjoining states of North East region of India are highly enzootic for the vector borne haemoparasites of dog.

Tick-Borne Diseases-Possible Threat to Humans-Dog Interspecie Bond

“…Prevalence of anaplasmosis in the present study was found similar with the findings of (Pennisi et al, 2012) who reported 38% prevalence of anaplasma. Findings of (Bhattacharjee and Sarmah, 2013) are not in agreement with current study and the possible reasons may be that (Bhattacharjee and Sarmah, 2013) reported only Anaplasma platys and did not reported Anaplasma phagocythophilum.…”

Prevalence of gastrointestinal and haemo-parasites in hunting dogs in Zaria, Nigeria

“…Dogs may also be infected with pathogenic haemoparasites including Babesia species (Nalubamba et al, 2011), Trypanosoma species (Keck et al, 2009), Leishmania spp., Hepatozoon spp., Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Mycoplasma spp., (Haemobartonella spp.,) and Dirofilaria spp., which are transmitted through different arthropod vectors, including ticks, lice, triatomes, mosquitoes, tabanids and phlebotomine sandflies. They cause illnesses called canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD) in tropical and subtropical countries (Bhattacharjee & Sarmah, 2013), some of which are of zoonotic importance (Saritas et al, 2005). Incidences of haemoparasites in dogs have been reported in Vom, Nigeria (Kamani et al, 2011), where the prevalence of 42% was reported comprising mostly Babesia canis (27%).…”

Haemoparasite fauna of domestic animals in plateau state, north central Nigeria

“…However, Ehrlichia canis was seen in exotic breed of dog which may be attributed to breed susceptibility (Nyindo et al, 1980). Babesia canis and Hepatozoon canis has been documented to affect dogs in India (Bhattacharjee and Sarmah, 2013) and in Cape Verde (Gotsch et al, 2009). The presence of Babesia canis and Hepatozoon canis in our study may be attributed to the fact that the tick vector (Rhipicephalus sanguneus) occur in large numbers in Jos south almost all year round (Kamani et al, 2011).…”