What is Babesia infection?
Babesia infection or babesiosis refers to infection with a protozoal parasite from the species called Babesia. Merozoites or piroplasms are the stage of Babesia that invades mammalian red blood cells, causing anemia.
How does a dog contract babesiosis?
Babesiosis is spread through the bite of an infected tick (primarily from the Ixodes species, although other tick species may also be capable of transmitting the disease). There is also evidence that some direct animal-to-animal transmission may occur, such as when an infected dog with oral abrasions bites another dog. Dogs kept or raised in kennel settings with poor tick control are at a higher risk for developing babesiosis.
What are the clinical signs of babesiosis?
Dogs infected with babesiosis may present with a wide variety of clinical signs, ranging in severity all the way from a sudden collapse with systemic shock, to a hemolytic crisis, to an insidious infection with no apparent clinical signs. Dogs typically present with the acute, severe form of babesiosis, which is characterized by findings such as abnormally dark urine, fever, weakness, pale mucous membranes, depression, lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes), and an enlarged spleen. Blood and urine tests may show anemia, thrombocytopenia (low platelets), hypoalbuminemia (low albumin, a blood protein), and bilirubinuria.
How is babesiosis diagnosed?
In the past, babesiosis was diagnosed by demonstrating the parasite on a blood smear. Other diagnostic tests are becoming more readily available, including FA (fluorescent antibody) staining of the organism and ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) tests (currently available only for B. canis). A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is also available.
Serologic or titer testing in the diagnosis of babesiosis has limitations. A positive test result is dependent on an antibody response by the infected dog, which may take up to ten days to develop. Once a dog has developed antibodies to babesiosis, they may persist for years and this must be considered when performing follow-up tests.
How is babesiosis treated?
The FDA approved treatment for babesiosis is imidocarb diproprionate. Your veterinarian will discuss any alternative and adjunctive treatments with you.
What is the prognosis for a dog diagnosed with babesiosis?
The prognosis for a dog diagnosed with babesiosis is guarded. Owners should be aware that dogs that have survived babesiosis often remain subclinically infected. These dogs may suffer a relapse of disease in the future or may serve as a source for the further spread of disease in a given area. Dogs that have recovered from babesiosis should never be used as donors for blood transfusions because the recipients may develop the disease.
Currently, an effective vaccine is not commercially available to protect dogs against babesiosis.
Based on material written by Ernest Ward, DVM. and modified with permission from Lifelearn Inc.
© Copyright 2005 Lifelearn Inc.
