Babesia infection in urban and rural dogs in Ahvaz district, Southwest of Iran

Canine Babesiosis is an important worldwide, tick-born disease caused by apicomplexan hemoparasitic from genus Babesia. The aim of the present survey was to identify the current state of Babesia infection in urban and rural dogs in Ahvaz district, southwest of Iran. For this reason, 200 rural dogs from 5 village around Ahvaz and 200 urban dogs (stratified random sampling) referred to the veterinary hospital of Shahid Chamran University were examined for the presence of Babesia species within 2 years. The studied dogs were classified based on age, sex, breed and season. Blood samples were taken from cephalic or saphenous vein and then peripheral thin blood smears were prepared and stained with Giemsa for parasitological examination. Among 400 dogs, 15 samples (3.75%) were infected with Babesia canis. The present study showed that from 200 rural dogs, 11 samples (5.5%) and from 200 urban dogs, 4 samples (2%) were positive for B. canis. Infection rate was higher in adult dogs 3-6 years-old (4.46; 5 out of 112) compared with young''s less than 3 years (3.59; 7 out of 195) and above 6 years (3.85; 3 out of 78). The infection was higher in female dogs (4.29%; 6 out of 140) than males (3.46%; 9 out of 260) and in warm season (5.15%; 12 out of 233) compared with cold season (1.8%; 3 out of 167), nevertheless, there was not significant relationship between sex, age and season in urban dogs (P>0.05), but significant difference was revealed between season and infection in rural dogs population (P<0.05). Although the infection rate of this parasite was low, but transmission of the protozoan to dogs should be intentioned. This is the first report indicating the presence of B. canis in dogs of Ahvaz district; however, the sources of infection in these dogs are not clear. The role of dogs in the epizootiology of B. canis infection needs to be further explored.