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Blood, Bull Terriers and Babesiosis: further evidence for direct transmission of Babesia gibsoni in dogs
Author(s) -
Jefferies R,
Ryan UM,
Jardine J,
Broughton DK,
Robertson ID,
Irwin PJ
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2007.00220.x
Subject(s) - babesiosis , veterinary medicine , restriction fragment length polymorphism , babesia , biology , virology , epidemiology , polymerase chain reaction , medicine , genetics , gene
This study reports on the epidemiology of Babesia gibsoni in American Pit Bull Terriers living in a region of western Victoria in southern Australia. Both American Pit Bull Terriers (n = 100) and other dog breeds (n = 51) were screened for B gibsoni using immunofluorescent antibody testing (IFAT) and/or polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP). A questionnaire was also completed by each dog owner, ascertaining the husbandry and habits of the dogs sampled. Fourteen dogs were positive for B gibsoni using IFAT and/or PCR‐RFLP and all were American Pit Bull Terriers. Dogs that were male and/or had been bitten by or were biters of other American Pit Bull Terriers were more likely to be B gibsoni positive, thus suggesting that blood‐to‐blood transmission contributes to the spread of this disease between dogs.