Canine Babesiosis in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study on the prevalence of canine babesiosis was carried out at Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, between April and September 2008. Giemsa stained blood smears of 480 dogs revealed that 187 (38.96%) of the dogs were positive with Babesia canis. Among these, 44(37.77%) of 123 puppies of less than 6 months of age, 40(36.04%) of 111 young dogs aged 6 – 24 months, and 103 (41.87%) of 246 adult dogs aged 24 months and above were infected by the parasite. However, the age specific infection rates were not significantly different (p>0.05). Male dogs with an infection rate of 39.15% were more infected than the females, with infection rate of 38.69% and the difference between the sex specific infection rates was not significant (p>0.05). The parasite was encountered in 102(40.48%) of 252 local breed, 7(43.78%) of 16 mixed breed and 78 (36.79%) of 212 exotic breed. The breed- related prevalence rates were also not significantly different (p>0.05). The public health implications of thee findings are discussed.