Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog in Nigeria with fever and blood parasite co-infection Babesia
By Kamani, Joshua et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2010·Institute PMB 01·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Babesia canis and Babesia rossi co-infection in an untraveled Nigerian dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6-month-old female Alsatian was brought to the vet with symptoms like not eating, fever, and weakness, along with ticks on her body. Tests showed she had a co-infection with two types of Babesia parasites, which can cause serious illness in dogs. This case is significant as it’s the first report of this particular co-infection in West Africa. The dog likely received treatment for the Babesia infection, but specific outcomes were not detailed. It's important for pet owners in the region to be aware of these parasites and their potential impact on dog health.
People also search for: dog fever and weakness · Alsatian tick infestation treatment · Babesia infection in dogs
Abstract
A sexually intact 6-month-old female Alsatian dog was presented to the Veterinary Clinic of the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria, for the following complaints: anorexia, hemoglobinuria, fever, tick infestation and general malaise. Microscopy revealed piroplasms with a wide range of sizes (1-5 μm in length) in red blood cells, raising a suspicion of a co-infection with two or more Babesia species. Specific PCR assays for canine Babesia spp. and DNA sequencing revealed the presence of Babesia canis and Babesia rossi co-infection. This study constitutes the first report of co-infection with B. canis and B. rossi in the West African sub-region and the first report of autochthonous B. canis on the African continent. Practitioners should be aware of potential changes in the species/sub-species of Babesia causing canine babesiosis in this region.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20705395/