Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Babesia gibsoni blood transmission in American Pit Bull Terriers
By Jefferies, R et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2007·Murdoch University, Australia·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Blood, Bull Terriers and Babesiosis: further evidence for direct transmission of Babesia gibsoni in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of American Pit Bull Terriers in western Victoria, Australia, were tested for a blood parasite called Babesia gibsoni, which can cause serious illness. Out of 100 dogs, 14 tested positive for the parasite, and it was found that male dogs or those that had bitten or been bitten by other Pit Bulls were more likely to be infected. This suggests that the disease spreads through blood contact between dogs. If your dog shows signs of illness, it's important to talk to your veterinarian about testing for Babesia gibsoni and possible treatments.
People also search for: American Pit Bull Terrier Babesia gibsoni symptoms · dog blood parasite treatment · how do dogs get Babesia gibsoni
Abstract
This study reports on the epidemiology of Babesia gibsoni in American Pit Bull Terriers living in a region of western Victoria in southern Australia. Both American Pit Bull Terriers (n = 100) and other dog breeds (n = 51) were screened for B gibsoni using immunofluorescent antibody testing (IFAT) and/or polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). A questionnaire was also completed by each dog owner, ascertaining the husbandry and habits of the dogs sampled. Fourteen dogs were positive for B gibsoni using IFAT and/or PCR-RFLP and all were American Pit Bull Terriers. Dogs that were male and/or had been bitten by or were biters of other American Pit Bull Terriers were more likely to be B gibsoni positive, thus suggesting that blood-to-blood transmission contributes to the spread of this disease between dogs.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17970851/