Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog develops Babesia gibsoni infection after blood transfusion
By Stegeman, Julie R et al.Ā·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical AssociationĀ·2003Ā·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United StatesĀ·View original on PubMed ā
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Original publication title: Transfusion-associated Babesia gibsoni infection in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2.5-year-old spayed female German Shepherd was brought in for severe anemia, tiredness, and weight loss after receiving a blood transfusion. The dog developed a mild fever and an enlarged spleen, and tests revealed she had a Babesia gibsoni infection, which she likely contracted from a healthy blood donor dog. Although her symptoms improved with treatment, the infection persisted despite several antiparasitic medications. This case highlights the importance of screening blood donors for infections like Babesia to protect other dogs in need of transfusions.
People also search for: dog anemia after blood transfusion Ā· Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs Ā· German Shepherd weight loss treatment
Abstract
A 2.5-year-old spayed female German Shepherd Dog was referred for evaluation of progressive anemia, lethargy, and weight loss. Seventeen days earlier, the dog had received a whole blood transfusion to manage hemorrhage after ovariohysterectomy. Mild fever, splenomegaly, and thrombocytopenia were also identified. Von Willebrand disease and Babesia gibsoni infection were diagnosed. Because of the serologic cross-reactivity of B gibsoni and B canis in the immunofluorescent antibody assay for IgG antibodies against these organisms, polymerase chain reaction amplification of parasite DNA was required to identify the infecting Babesia sp. The source of the B gibsoni infection was traced to an apparently healthy American Pit Bull Terrier blood donor. Despite resolution of clinical signs in the dog of this report, a series of antiparasitic treatments failed to eliminate the B gibsoni infection. Screening of potential blood donor dogs for Babesia spp is becoming increasingly important in the United States.
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Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12685786/