Prevalence of Babesia canis in urban and domestic dogs in Isfahan

Babesiosis is caused by different species of babesiosis. It can infect a variety of vertebrate hosts, including domestic and wild animals and humans. The parasite is an intracellular monocyte found inside red blood cells. It is transmitted to sensitive hosts by ticks in the oxidized family. This disease is characterized by extensive lysis of red blood cells, which leads to anemia, jaundice, hemoglobinuria, and eventually death. In this work, 200 blood samples were examined taken from two populations of 100 urban and domestic dogs in Isfahan using common parasitological methods and molecular method (PCR) to amplify and confirm the presence of Babesia protozoa in the blood of these animals. The results were then statistically analyzed using SPSS software V.16 and the chi-square test (X2). In the samples obtained from pet dogs, a molecular prevalence of 21/10% was observed in urban dogs compared to 39/20%. It was reported by comparing the observational method of parasitology 13/6% and 17/9%, in domestic and urban dogs, respectively. This indicates the low prevalence of this parasite is in domestic dogs compared to the urban dogs in Isfahan. The results of the present study showed that Babesia canis has a higher prevalence in stray dogs in Isfahan. Owing to the potential of these dogs and the abundance of arthropod carriers in the spread of this disease, this issue should be further considered by officials to collect and organize. Urban animals are increasing than ever before.