Treating newborn puppies for infection through their mother's milk

Abstract

is a parasitic protozoan transmitted through tick bites and can cause severe disease in dogs. It can also be transmitted through direct contact with infected blood during dog fights, blood transfusions, and from dam to offspring during the perinatal period, resulting in stillborn or dead newborn puppies. This study aimed to determine the incidence of infection, the viability of newborn puppies, and the degree oftransmission from infected dam to offspring during pregnancy and lactation. Using PCR-based molecular methods,infection in a pregnant American Pit Bull Terrier and her newborn puppies was confirmed. The incidence ofinfection in the litter reached 75%. Out of eight puppies, six were infected with, and one died. A therapeutic protocol comprising Malarone, azithromycin, and artesunate was administered to a lactating-positive bitch. By day 77 after birth, three out of five positive puppies showed negative PCR tests for, indicating successful treatment through breast milk during nursing. In the two remaining positive puppies, therapy was started and parasitemia was successfully eliminated.