Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog in Germany with Babesia canis not cured by repeated imidocarb
By Weingart, Christiane et al.·Published in Ticks and tick-borne diseases·2024·Small Animal Clinic, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Repeated imidocarb treatment failure suggesting emerging resistance of Babesia canis in a new endemic area in north-eastern Germany.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old male Magyar Vizsla was brought in after experiencing lethargy, fever, and low blood cell counts due to a Babesia canis infection, which is transmitted by ticks. Despite multiple treatments with a medication called imidocarb, the dog continued to relapse. After several failed attempts, the veterinarian switched to a different treatment using atovaquone and azithromycin for 18 days. This new treatment worked, and the dog did not have any further relapses for over 32 weeks.
People also search for: dog Babesia canis treatment · Magyar Vizsla fever · imidocarb resistance in dogs · atovaquone azithromycin for dogs
Abstract
Canine babesiosis has been increasingly diagnosed in various regions of Germany such as north-eastern Germany in recent years. A dog with several relapses of Babesia canis infection after treatment with imidocarb is described. A 9-year-old male Magyar Viszla with B. canis infection was referred after two treatments with imidocarb (dosage 2.1 mg/kg SC) because of lethargy, fever and pancytopenia (additional treatments with prednisolone and doxycycline). Merozoites were detected in the blood smear and imidocarb treatment was repeated. Clinical signs, pancytopenia and a positive B. canis PCR occurred after the 3rd (6 mg/kg SC), 4th (7.7 mg/kg SC) and 5th (7.5 mg/kg SC and doxycycline for 4 weeks in addition) imidocarb injection and thorough tick prevention with isoxazoline and permethrin products. 12 days after the 5th injection, the PCR was negative for the first time. The dog was again presented with fever 35 days after the 5th injection. The B. canis PCR was positive and laboratory examination revealed pancytopenia. Treatment with atovaquone/azithromycin for 18 days was performed and no further relapse occurred for 32 weeks. In the case of suspected imidocarb resistance in B. canis infection, treatment with atovaquone/azithromycin can be an alternative.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38301344/