Climatic Influences on Canine Babesiosis: Patterns of Babesia Prevalence and Dynamics

This study investigates the prevalence of Babesia gibsoni and Babesia vogeli in Wayanad district Kerala, India, from January 2021 to December 2023, focusing on the impact of climatic factors on pathogen abundance. Canine babesiosis, caused by these protozoan parasites, poses a significant health threat to dogs globally. Despite the increasing incidence of the disease, there is limited research on the influence of specific climatic variables on the prevalence of B. gibsoni and B. vogeli in Kerala. An analysis of 350 canine blood samples was done by PCR to evaluate the prevalence of these pathogens and their correlation with climatic factors such as temperature, evaporation rate, relative humidity, and rainfall. Whole blood samples were collected from dogs exhibiting clinical signs of babesiosis were examined using PCR, while biometeorological data, including temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and evaporation rate, were simultaneously collected to explore their impact on parasite prevalence. Our findings indicated a higher prevalence of B. gibsoni (58.33%) compared to B. vogeli (41.67%), with B. gibsoni showing peak incidence in 2022. Statistical analysis revealed that maximum temperature and evaporation rate were positively associated with the abundance of both species, whereas relative humidity and rainfall were negatively correlated. These results highlight the significant role of climatic conditions in the epidemiology of canine babesiosis, emphasizing the need for further research to understand how specific environmental factors influence pathogen transmission. Such insights are crucial for developing effective strategies to manage and mitigate the impact of these diseases in Kerala.