Canine babesiosis, an important worldwide tick-borne protozoal disease, is characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, febrile illness, and splenomegaly.
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Canine babesiosis, an important worldwide tick-borne protozoal disease, is characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, febrile illness, and splenomegaly.
History
Physical Examination
Figure 1. Canine blood smear of Babesia canis showing paired large merozoites (pair tear-drop forms).
Figure 2. Canine blood smear of Babesia gibsoni showing single merozoites (signet-ring form).
Drugs/Fluids
Precautions
Cost Key $ = up to $100 $$$$ = $501–$1000 $$ = $101–$250 $$$$$ = more than $1000 $$$ = $251–$500
MICHAEL F. DI CICCO, DVM, is a second-year resident at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. His resident project involves the reemergence and successful treatment of Babesia conradae infection in southern California. Additional areas of interest include general medicine and renal disease. Dr. Di Cicco completed a 1-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Cornell University and received his DVM from University of Illinois.
ADAM J. BIRKENHEUER, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, is associate professor of internal medicine at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine and principal investigator at the Vector Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. His research interests include epidemiology, molecular characterization, molecular diagnosis, and treatment of vector-borne diseases. Dr. Birkenheuer received a PhD in immunology from North Carolina State University and DVM from University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
References
Suggested Reading
Babesiosis. Birkenheuer AJ. In Greene CE (ed): Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 4th ed—St. Louis:Saunders Elsevier, 2012, pp 771-784.
Efficacy of combined atovaquone and azithromycin for therapy of chronic Babesia gibsoni (Asian genotype) infections in dogs. Birkenheuer AJ, Levy MG, Breitschwerdt EB. J Vet Intern Med 18:494-498, 2004.
Geographic distribution of babesiosis among dogs in the United States and association with dog bites: 150 cases (2000-2003). Birkenheuer AJ, Correa MT, Levin MG, et al. JAVMA 227:942-947, 2005.
Re-emergence of Babesia conradae and effective treatment of infected dogs with atovaquone and azithromycin. Di Cicco MF, Downey ME, Beeler E, et al. Vet Parasitol 187(1-2):23-27, 2012.
Author Information
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