First detection of Babesia gibsoni infection in Philippine stray dogs by immunochromatographic test (ICT)

• Main Authors: Flores, Mary Jane Cruz-, Claveria, Florencia G., Verdida, Rodolfo A., Xuan, Xuenan, Igarashi, Ikuo
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: Babesiosis > Philippines; Tick-borne diseases in animals; Dogs—Diseases; Biology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/2091
• Institution: De La Salle University

A total of 46 stray dogs in an impounding facility comprising 17 males and 29 females were diagnosed using the Babesia gibsoni P50 truncated antigen immunochromatographic test (P50t-ICT). Thirteen dogs (28.0%) were serologically positive. There was no cross-reactivity with serum samples from Babesia canis (= B. vogeli)-infected dogs and none of the ICT strips showed invalid results, which reinforce the sensitivity and specificity of the P50t antigen and the reliability and accuracy of the P50t-ICT. Thirty-seven (80.4%) dogs had mixed tick infestations principally of the genus Rhipicephalus and Boophilus. From 11 seropositive and 20 seronegative dogs a total of 80 Rhipicephalus ticks were pooled. Among the 33 seronegative dogs, 48.5% had infestation with Rhipicephalus sp. only, 12.1% with Boophilus sp. only, 12.1% with mixed Rhipicephalus sp. and Boophilus sp., and 19.6% were un-infested. This paper documents the first account of serological detection of B. gibsoni in stray dogs and their infestation mainly with Rhipicephalus sp. suggestive of their role as putative key vectors of B. gibsoni in Philippine stray dogs.