Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs of tick-borne babesiosis in dogs in Hungary
By Máthé, Á. et al.·Published in Acta Veterinaria Hungarica·2006·1 Department and Clinic of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University H-1400 Budapest, P.O. Box 2, Hungary·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Clinical manifestations of canine babesiosis in Hungary (63 cases)
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 63 dogs in Hungary showed signs of a tick-borne illness called babesiosis, which is caused by a parasite. Common symptoms included lethargy, fever, and pale gums, with many dogs also having ticks on them. The disease was more frequent in the spring and autumn, likely due to increased tick activity. Treatment with a medication called imidocarb was effective in most cases, especially for uncomplicated infections. However, older dogs and Rottweilers were more likely to develop severe complications, leading to a lower recovery rate for those with multiple organ issues.
People also search for: dog lethargy and fever · babesiosis treatment for dogs · tick-borne diseases in dogs · Rottweiler health issues · signs of tick infection in dogs
Abstract
Clinical observations ofBabesia canisinfection in 63 dogs during a 1-year period are summarised, demonstrating the pathogenicity of theBabesiastrain endemic in Hungary. Most patients had babesiosis in the spring and autumn, correlating with the seasonal activity of ticks. Male animals appeared in higher numbers, probably due to an overrepresentation of outdoor dogs. Uncomplicated babesiosis was diagnosed in 32 cases. The disease affected dogs of any age in this study. Symptoms were similar to those published from other parts of the world: lethargy, fever, splenomegaly, pallor, icterus, haemoglobinuria and presence of ticks were the most common observations. Thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia and neutropenia were frequent haemogram changes. Imidocarb appeared to be highly effective in eliminating theBabesiainfection. Thirty-one animals demonstrated babesiosis with complications. Most Rottweilers (7/9) developed complicated disease. Old age was a risk factor for multiple complications. Multiple organ manifestations had poor prognosis. Hepatopathy (44%), pancreatitis (33%), acute renal failure (ARF; 31%) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC; 24%) were frequent complications, while immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA; 10%), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS; 6%) and cerebral babesiosis (3%) were rarely observed. There was a significant difference between the mean age of dogs having uncomplicated disease, babesiosis with a single complication and babesiosis with multiple complications (3.4, 4.8 and 8.6 years, respectively, p < 0.001). The recovery rate (78, 68 and 25%, respectively, p = 0.005) and mortality rate (3, 21 and 67%, respectively, p < 0.001) also tended to differ significantly in these groups. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and DIC are two possible pathways leading to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in babesiosis. DIC was found to predict MODS more sensitively in this study than SIRS: there were 6 animals developing MODS out of 11 identified with DIC, while only 5 dogs developed MODS out of 22 having SIRS.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1556/avet.54.2006.3.7