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Unveiling a Hidden Threat: First Report of Clinical Canine Hepatozoonosis and Babesia canis vogeli Co-infection in Jordan | ||
| Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences | ||
| Volume 40, Issue 2, April 2026, Pages 381-387 PDF (702.26 K) | ||
| Document Type: Research Paper | ||
| DOI: 10.33899/ijvs.2026.168258.4660 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Raida Karim Al-Rukibat* 1; Wael M Hananeh2; Rami Mukbel3 | ||
| 1Department of Veterinary Pathology & Public Health | ||
| 2Veterinary pathology college of Veterinary Medicine Jordan University of Science And Technology | ||
| 3Department of Basic Medical Veterinary Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine Jordan University of Science and technology | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Canine hepatozoonosis is an important parasitic disease of dogs with increasing significance in veterinary medicine due to its impact on canine health. The disease is primarily caused by Hepatozoon canis, and unlike many tick-borne infections, transmission occurs through ingestion of infected ticks. This study reports fifteen cases of clinical canine hepatozoonosis in Jordan, including four cases with confirmed co-infection by Babesia canis vogeli, highlighting the diagnostic challenges posed by dual hemoparasitic infections. Diagnosis was based on clinical findings, hematological alterations, and microscopic examination of blood smears demonstrating characteristic gamonts within neutrophils, and was confirmed by PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene yielded amplicons of approximately ~660 bp for Hepatozoon canis and ~490 bp for Babesia canis vogeli. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the obtained sequences clustered with reference strains of H. canis and Babesia canis vogeli. The cases were identified during a one-year screening of 200 canine blood samples submitted to our diagnostic clinical pathology laboratory, with 15 samples testing positive for one or more hemoparasites. The findings provide insight into the clinical manifestations, hematological alterations, diagnostic complexities, and the potential impact of co-infection on disease severity and prognosis. While H. canis infection has been previously reported in Jordan (20), this study represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of co-infection with B. canis vogeli in Jordan . By integrating clinical, laboratory, and molecular approaches, it contributes valuable information on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of hemoparasitic infections in dogs, with implications for veterinary practice and disease surveillance. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Hepatozoon canis; Babesia canis vogeli; Co-infection; Dog; Jordan | ||
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