Correlations regarding the diagnosis and the optimal therapeutic protocol in canine babesiosis

Abstract

Canine babesiosis is one of the most important vector-borne diseases worldwide that affects dogs regardless of age, breed or gender. The aim of this study was to corroborate the clinical signs of canine patients confirmed with babesiosis, the results of paraclinical investigations, as well as the choice of the therapeutic protocol. The present study was performed on 42 dogs referred to the Clinic of Parasitic Diseases from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Iasi with similar symptoms to canine babesiosis. After recording data regarding age, breed and gender of all dogs and the clinical examination of the patients, two peripheral blood samples were collected from each patient for the following investigations: Diff-quick stained blood smears and blood tests (hematological, biochemical, serologic). After analysis of blood smear, all the dogs (42/42) were positive for Babesia spp. and the most common clinical signs identified were: fever – 37/42 (88,1%), pale mucous membrane – 31/42 (73,8%) and hemoglobinuria – 31/42 (73,8%). The results of hematologic tests revealed thrombocythopenia – 40/42 and moderate to severe anemia. Further serological tests detected Babesia gibsoni antibodies in 2/42 blood samples. Depending on the results of the blood tests, the therapeutic dose of imizole was administered in a single dose or divided into two doses, administered within a maximum of 12 hours. In conclusion, the present study emphasizes the importance of paraclinical investigations in order to identify possible co-infections and adjust treatment in infected dogs.