Hematological and Molecular Profiling of Some Blood Pathogens in Dog Breeding Farm in Egypt

Abstract

Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are widespread arthropod-transmitted diseases that pose a significant threat to animal and human health. Despite their growing significance, little is known about the vector-born pathogen in Egypt. There is a substantial diagnostic challenge, especially when a dog is co-infected with more than one pathogen. Microscopic blood smear examination (n=49) followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR, n=6) using species-specific primers of Babesia and Mycoplasma was used to establish the prevalence of each infecting pathogen. Most of the examined dogs recorded macrocytic hypochromic anemia with marked thrombocytopenia. The dog ticks; Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Haemaphysalis elliptica were morphologically identified. Blood smear analysis showed that Babesia spp. was the most prevalent pathogen detected with an overall prevalence of 44.9% (22/49), 18.44% (9/49) for Mycoplasma spp, and co-infection was found in 8.2% (4/49) dogs. Quantitative PCR identified B. canis vogeli, B. gibsoni, and Mycoplasma haemocanis. Babesiosis infection in this study was significantly reliant on sex, season, and age. This is the first microscopical and molecular identification of M. haemocanis in dogs in Egypt. This study provides a foundation for future avenues of research investigating prevalent vector-borne pathogens in endemic areas and offers crucial knowledge for future diagnostic efforts.