Molecular prevalence, risk factors assessment and haemato-biochemical alterations in hepatozoonosis in dogs from Punjab, India.

•PCR and conventional Giemsa methods were compared for detection of H. canis.•Presence of H. canis was found to be significantly associated with season.•Significant drop in Hb, TEC, PCV and lymphocytes was observed in infected cases.•Lymphopenia, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, relative neutrophilia and neutrophilic leucocytosis were most common haematological alterations.•Biochemical profile revealed hypoproteinemia and increased levels of BUN and CREAT.