Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Severe anemia in 12-week-old Swedish pit bull puppy from Theileria
By Falkenö, Ulrika et al.·Published in Acta veterinaria Scandinavica·2013·University Animal Hospital·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Theileria annae in a young Swedish dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 12-week-old mixed breed puppy in Sweden was brought to the vet with severe anemia, which means his body wasn't making enough healthy red blood cells. A blood test revealed a small parasite in his blood, initially thought to be a different type of parasite. However, further testing identified it as Theileria annae, a rare parasite not previously reported in Scandinavia. This parasite is often linked to dog fighting and can be transmitted through bites or from mother to puppy. The puppy's treatment plan would likely focus on addressing the anemia and managing the parasite infection.
People also search for: puppy anemia treatment · Theileria annae in dogs · mixed breed puppy blood parasite · dog fighting parasites · why is my puppy weak and tired
Abstract
A severe regenerative anemia was detected in a 12-week-old mixed breed puppy in Sweden. A small protozoan parasite was observed in erythrocytes on a blood smear. It was initially suspected to be Babesia gibsoni based on its size and because B. gibsoni was previously recorded in Sweden. Surprisingly, specific polymerase chain reaction analysis identified the protozoan as Theileria annae. T. annae is endemic in Northwest Spain, is very uncommonly reported elsewhere and has never been recorded in Scandinavia. T. annae has been identified in dogs used for dog fighting, and it is thought to be transmitted by dog bites. This puppy was a mixed pit bull terrier. Pit bull terriers are sometimes used for dog fighting. T. annae has been reported to be transmitted vertically, and in light of the puppy's age, this transmission was suspected in the present case.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23842507/