Canine babesiosis in a male Boerboel: Hematobiochemical and anatomic pathological changes in the cardiorespiratory and reproductive organs

Abstract

A 9-month old male Boerboel was presented at the University of Abuja Small Animal Clinic with a primary complaint of inappetence and micturition with brownish-yellow urine. Physical examination revealed pale mucous membranes, enlarged pre-scapular lymph nodes, bilateral ocular discharges, pyrexia (41.2 °C), depression and the presence of ticks of the genus Rhipicephalus sanguineus on the body of the animal. History revealed that the dog was recently vaccinated against canine distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus (DHLPP) and rabies six days prior to the onset of clinical signs, and had been anorexic. Following clinical examination, blood and faecal samples were collected for biochemical and parasitological analyses, and the results revealed the presence of intraerythrocytic Babesia parasites, normocytic and normochromic anaemia with extensive cellular damage. However, during the course of the investigation, the dog died. With appropriate consent, a post-mortem examination was carried out. Diffuse oedema with interstitial pneumonia in the lung, focal haemorrhage with cellular infiltration in the heart and progressive necrosis of epithelial cells within the seminiferous tubules of the testicles were observed. Many of the observed clinicopathological alterations were consistent with complicated babesiosis. However, in the current case, some unique systemic complications such as testicular degeneration, which has not been previously observed in the Boerboel are discussed.

Clinical, Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Canine Babesiosis and its Compatible Tick Vector in Naturally Infected Dogs, in Egypt

“…Similar manifestations were reported by Salem and Farag [41],Ybanez et al [42] and Islam et al [43]. Severe complicated babesiosis was observed by Ubah et al [17] who reported testicular degeneration for the first time in a male dog infested with R. sanguenus, in addition to interstitial pneumonia and cellular infiltration in the heart.…”

“…Splenomegaly is the clearest pathgnomonic lesion in the infected carcass. Ubah et al [17] recorded pulmonary edema, testicular necrosis, hepatomegaly and kidney damage in male dogs with complicated infection of B. canis in addition to patched haemorrhagic inflammation of the intestines, mesentery and cardiac musculature.…”

Clinical and spermatological findings in male dogs with acquired infertility: A retrospective analysis

“…Ubah et al. (2019) reported that the mechanism of testicular tissue damage in the course of this disease is still unclear, although observed haemolytic anaemia may generate an increase in oxidative stress leading to disruption of the testicular microsystem or inflammatory reactions. All of the above changes in the testes result in disruption of the spermatogenesis process and affect male fertility.…”

Canine babesiosis – a disease rarely considered in the context of male infertility

“…In cases where the animal died as a result of infection with Babesia spp ., histopathological examination of the testicles confirmed damage to the tissue in the form of necrosis and numerous vessels displayed segmental inflammatory changes [ 4 ]. Segmental degeneration of the seminiferous tubules was also found, characterized by the presence of multinucleated cells in their lumen.…”

“…The clinical signs are progressive haemolytic anaemia, fever, apathy, pale mucous membranes and dark urine [ 1 – 3 ]. Little or nothing has been said about the impact of babesiosis on breeding dogs in terms of their reproduction [ 4 ]. So far, there are no studies on the influence of babesiosis on the quality of semen in dogs.…”