author(s)
M Kalaivanan, S Saravanan and G Ponnudurai

abstract
Dogs brought to Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal were screened for Babesia gibsoni by conventional microscopic examination and polymerase chain reaction. The parasite could not be detected by microscopy, however, polymerase chain reaction targeting 18S rRNA gene of B. gibsoni revealed a positivity of 2.0 per cent. The amplicon of B. gibsoni had complete homology with the isolates from India and other countries. Male, adult dogs of non-descript breeds were found to be highly susceptible for babesiosis. The PCR was found to be useful in the epemiological survey of B.gibsoni in dogs.