Serosurvey of antiBabesia antibodies in stray dogs and American pit bull terriers and American staffordshire terriers from North Carolina

J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2003 Nov-Dec;39(6):551-7. doi: 10.5326/0390551.

Abstract

Stray dogs (n=359) and kennel dogs (n=149) from North Carolina were tested for evidence of antiBabesia antibodies. AntiBabesia antibodies were detected in 21/359 and 22/149 of the stray and kennel dogs, respectively. A total of 57 dogs from both groups were tested for babesiasis by light microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Babesia deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was detected in 3/28 of the stray dogs and 14/29 of the kennel dogs. When Babesia DNA was detected by PCR, the species-specific PCR results differed from the Babesia species antibody titer results in 6/17 of the PCR-positive dogs. There was no association between antiBabesia antibodies and the presence of ticks. There are currently Babesia gibsoni epizootics affecting American pit bull terrier kennels.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Babesia / immunology*
  • Babesia / isolation & purification
  • Babesiosis / epidemiology
  • Babesiosis / veterinary*
  • DNA, Protozoan / analysis
  • Dog Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Male
  • North Carolina / epidemiology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • DNA, Protozoan