Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Urinary markers show kidney damage in dogs with babesiosis
By Winiarczyk, Dagmara et al.·Published in Tierarztliche Praxis. Ausgabe K, Kleintiere/Heimtiere·2017·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Utility of urinary markers in the assessment of renal dysfunction in canine babesiosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs infected with the tick-borne disease babesiosis showed signs of kidney damage, which can lead to serious complications like acute renal failure. Researchers found higher levels of specific urinary markers in these dogs compared to healthy dogs, indicating that both the filtering units (glomeruli) and the tubules in the kidneys were affected. This study helps veterinarians understand how babesiosis impacts kidney function, but further tests are needed to fully assess the damage. If your dog has babesiosis, it’s important to monitor kidney health closely.
People also search for: dog babesiosis symptoms · kidney damage in dogs · treatment for dog kidney disease
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Canine babesiosis is a common and clinically significant tick-borne disease caused by haemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. Acute renal failure is considered to be one of the most prevalent complications of canine babesiosis. This complication leads to a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate and in consequence causes azotemia and uremia. The objective of this study was to assess the localization and extent of renal damage in dogs infected with Babesia canis using an urinary marker for glomerular (urinary immunoglobulin G, uIgG), proximal tubular dysfunction (urinary retinol binding protein, uRBP) and distal tubular dysfunction (urinary Tamm-Horsfal protein, uTHP). Material und methods: In 10 dogs naturally infected with B. canis and 10 healthy control dogs the levels of urinary biomarkers were measured using commercially available ELISA tests. RESULTS: Higher concentrations of uIgG, uRBP and uTHP were found in the urine of all dogs with babesiosis than in those from the control group. This indicates that in the course of the disease, the glomeruli as well as the renal tubules become damaged. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The study results allow a better understanding of the pathogenesis of canine babesiosis. However, in order to fully determine the extent and the nature of the damage to the kidneys of the infected dogs, it is advisable to conduct additional histopathological examinations of these organs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28074976/