Biometeorological analysis on the molecular incidence of babesiosis and ehrlichiosis in dogs

Babesiosis and ehrlichiosis are highly morbid vector-borne diseases causing fatal conditions among dogs of the tropics and the pertinent association of the environmental determinants on their epidemiology remains unexplored. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of biometeorological factors like climate and air quality parameters on the molecular incidence of babesiosis and ehrlichiosis in clinically anemic dogs. The dogs having clinical signs suggestive of hemoparasitism were randomly screened from July 2022 to June 2023 for the molecular incidence of Babesia gibsoni, Ehrlichia canis, and B. canis organisms. The weather parameters [maximum and minimum temperatures, mean daily temperature, daily variation in temperature, average relative humidity, Temperature Humidity Index-THI and bright sunshine hours] and air quality parameters [Air Quality Index-AQI, Particulate Matter 2.5 mu m-PM2.5 (minimum, maximum, average, daily variation), and Particulate Matter 10 mu m-PM10 (minimum, maximum, average, daily variation)] of the sampling days were recorded and statistically evaluated for identifying any correlation with the molecular incidence of each organism. The results depict an evident correlation between the studied parameters and the molecular incidence of these hemoparasites in dogs. Out of 448 samples screened, the high prevalence of hemoparasitism (28.35%), including B. gibsoni (40.89%), E. canis (15.17%) and B. canis (16.67%) infections, was observed among the dogs of the study region during the study period. Also, the variability in the distribution pattern of each organism with respect to the biometeorological parameter points towards the future possibility of developing a disease surveillance-cum-forecast system, based on the host-vector-environment-pathogen epidemiological interplay dynamics.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the impact of biometeorological factors on the molecular incidence of babesiosis and ehrlichiosis in dogs. The results showed a significant correlation and suggested the potential development of a disease surveillance-cum-forecast system.