Anemia description in Babesia spp. infected dogs

Abstract

Babesiosis is a tick-borne malaria-like illness caused by species of the intraerythrocytic protozoan Babesia. Infection in dogs may occur by tick transmission, direct transmission via blood transfer from dog bites, blood transfusions or transplacental transmission. The most common mode of transmission is by tick bite, as the Babesia parasite uses the tick as a reservoir. The study was undertaken between 2015-2017 in Physiology and Pathophysiology laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Iasi on 21 dogs of different breeds and age. Babesia infected dogs represented 4,3% of the total number of investigated blood samples. Due to Babesia spp. affinity for erythrocytes, anemia is the most commonly diagnosed disorder in babesiosis, being observed in 11 patients (52,4%). Direct action of parasites on erythrocytes by producing toxins or indirectly by stimulating an autoimmune response leads to destruction of red blood cells in large numbers according to the degree of parasitemia. The average value of erythrocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit are inversely proportional to the expressed parasitemia by the studied individuals. As previous studies have shown before, in Babesia spp. infected dogs, anemia is accompanied by monocytosis. The increase in monocyte counts correlates to the leukocyte proliferation found in babesiosis. Monocytosis certifies the chronic evolution of the disease and the autoimmune character induced by the development of the parasitic stages.