5. Conclusions
In the present study, an epidemiological survey of B. gibsoni infections
in dogs was conducted in north and north-eastern part of India.
Sequence analysis of the TRAP gene of B. gibsoni prevalent in India
showed genetic variations among them. These genetic variations were
mostly contributed by repeat sequences of a hexapeptide, tetrapeptide
and a dipeptide, respectively present in the TRAP protein and shared
by both Indian and Bangladeshi isolates. Phylogenetic analysis of the
BgTRAP gene fragments clearly showed that B. gibsoni parasites in
India and Bangladesh formed a distinct cluster away from other Asian
B. gibsoni parasites. This is the first report on the genetic diversity of
B. gibsoni in India based on the TRAP gene.