ArticleActa parasitologica2026
Subclinical Infections of Babesia and Dirofilaria in Dogs Presented to a Veterinary Teaching Hospital: Evidence for a Silent Reservoir of Infection in Sri Lanka.
Article in Acta parasitologica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
purposeCanine filariasis and babesiosis are serious vector-borne diseases, often undetected in asymptomatic dogs. This hidden prevalence complicates disease control, as subclinical carriers may continue transmission. This study determined the prevalence of asymptomatic infections and explored potential links between breed types.
methodsBlood samples were collected from dogs brought to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital for illnesses, vaccination, sterilization, and regular health check-ups. Babesia and filarial worms were morphologically identified through Giemsa-stained thin blood smears and Modified Knott's Technique, respectively. Infections were confirmed using conventional PCR, targeting the 18S rRNA gene for babesiosis and the 5.8S-ITS2-28S region for filariasis, following bi-directional sequencing. The prevalence and infection intensity were compared among gender, age, and breed of dogs.
resultsAmong the 160 dogs tested, 35.0% and 16.3% were positive for infections of Babesia and Dirofilaria, respectively, of which 88.0% showed no clinical signs. A higher prevalence of Babesia infection was observed in crossbred (51%) than purebred dogs (26%; Chi square test, χ
conclusionAsymptomatic cases of filariasis and babesiosis among dogs reveal a persistent clinical burden, with crossbred dogs acting as subclinical reservoirs. This silent transmission complicates early detection and facilitates continued spread within the domestic canine population. This highlights the importance of routine screening across all breeds to introduce preventive and control measures to curb disease persistence.
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