EPIDEMILOGY AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF CANINE BABESIOSIS IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN
S. S. Ahmad, M. S. Khan*and M. A. Khan*
Pet Centre, UVAS, Lahore, Pakistan.
*Clinical Medicine and Surgery, UVAS, Lahore, Pakistan.
Corresponding Author: e-mail: vetsalim@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Babesiosis is a tick borne protozoan disease of domestic and wild animals. Objective of this study was to record its seasonal prevalence in canine especially in dogs, came at the Pet Centre, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan, which is the oldest and famous veterinary research hospital in Pakistan. The period of study was from January 2005 to December 2007. The blood samples were collected from the tip of the ear and blood smears stained with Diff-Quik and Giemsa stain which were examined under a microscope. According to the result the percentage of infection was highest during the summer and autumn months. The overall number / percentage were 54 % 1.21%, 173 % 3.25%, 75 % 2.11% and 13 % 0.54%, during Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter season respectively, for the period from 2005 to 2007. Special measures and medicines were advised to the patient and additional precautions like tick spray, ticks bath and better hygienic conditions throughout the peak season were adopted.
Key word: Babesia, Babesiosis, Lahore, Seasonal occurrence.
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