2007 Volume 16 Issue 3 Pages 87-91
A method of diagnosing canine Babesia gibsoni infection based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using template DNA extracted from peripheral blood has been recently developed, and used clinically. In the present study, using dogs infected spontaneously with Babesia gibsoni, the sensitivity and specificity of a modified PCR method based on the direct use of whole blood was assessed, in the hope of saving time and labor and reducing the risk of contamination. Both the direct and usual methods were tested, and compared in 31 dogs with suspected babesiosis. The usual PCR method detected the B. gibsoni-specific gene P18 in 26 dogs, and this gene was detected in all 26 dogs by the direct PCR method as well. The sensitivity of the direct PCR method was 0.07 %, in the contrast to the 0.0007 % of the usual method. Thus the sensitivity of the direct PCR method was lower than that of the usual PCR method, but it was still higher than that of the microscopic method using smears. These results showed that the direct PCR method was sufficiently accurate in diagnosing the infection clinically, and in addition it was easier to perform and provided quicker results. In conclusion, the direct PCR method is practical and useful for diagnosis of Babesia Infection.
