Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXVI, Issue 2
Written by Camelia ION, Ioan Liviu MITREA, Mariana IONITA
Canine babesiosis is a potential life-threatening tick-borne disease affecting dogs worldwide. Early diagnostic and specific therapy in due time are emergency issues, as the infection may progress rapidly to severe, acute, and complicated potentially fatal disease. Here we describe a clinical case of babesiosis in a 6-year-old male Bichon Frise dog which was referred to the Clinic of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, in April 2019, with clinical signs (fever, 39.9°C, jaundice, haemoglobinurie, weakness) compatible for babesiosis. Blood samples were collected and subjected for hematological and biochemical investigations, and for parasitological testing. The blood smear analysis showed intraerytrocytic piroplasms compatible for large Babesia form. Subsequently of the clinical and paraclinical investigations the dog was diagnosed with severe babesiosis, characterized by severe anemia (PCV=15.8%; Hgb=5.8 g/dL), neutropenia, trombocitopenia, and acute renal injury; a guarded to poor prognosis was considered. Accordingly, the therapeutic protocol aimed firstly to stabilize the animal by blood-transfusion, administering compatible tested blood, at a dose rate of 22 ml/kg body weight, over the course of 4 hours, followed by the babesiicid therapy, using imidocarb dipropionate, at lower dose of 3 mg/kg b.w. (two intramuscular injections, 24 h apart). Additionally, supportive therapy was administered under permanent monitoring of the animal within the intensive care unit. Following the treatment, the dog’s status improved rapidly and clinically recovered within 10 days. This case-report describes a successful complex therapeutic protocol based on multiple approaches (blood transfusion, specific treatment, intravenous fluids and oral supportive treatment) for critical, life-threatening cases of canine babesiosis.
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