Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXVI, Issue 1
Written by Laurentiu LEICA, Ioan Liviu MITREA, Mariana IONITA
Canine babesiosis is a protozoan tick-borne disease affecting dogs worldwide, caused by intra-erythrocytic large and small piroplasms of the genus Babesia (Apicomplexa: Piroplasmida). Clinical manifestations are polymorph and evolution of the disease depends to a large extent on the virulence of the causative piroplasm species but also to host-related factors and as well as to the time of animal presentation for consultation, the early diagnostic and specific therapy administered in due time. The most frequent pathological changes of canine babesiosis are anemia and different degrees of thrombocytopenia. Additionally, the systemic inflammatory response syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation are described as possible complications. Here we present a clinical case of babesiosis complicated by coagulopathy in a 11 months-old male Beagle dog, which was presented at a veterinary clinic with dyspnoea and apathy. The clinical, radiological, and ultrasound examinations showed an active bleeding in the thoracic cavity, prolonged coagulation time and post-haemorrhagic anemia (packed cell volume of 22.2%). Based on these primary registered aspects, intoxication with anticoagulant rodenticides was suspected. As it was considered an emergency, the dog was transferred to a specialized clinic for hemo-transfusion and stabilized. However, a week later, the dog returned to the clinic with a febrile syndrome. Based on the hemo-parasitological investigations, the dog was diagnosed with babesiosis. Initially, a therapeutical protocol, based on clindamycin was administered, but without a satisfactory evolution; therefore, a babesiicid treatment, using imidocarb dipropionate, was administered, after which the clinical status of the dog rapidly improved. By this case report, the challenges for diagnostic and therapeutical management of canine babesiosis and its impact on the disease evolution, including potential complications, are emphasized.
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