The first case of Babesia gibsoni infection in a dog in Poland

Abstract

Canine babesiosis is a tickborne, protozoal, haemoparasitic disease that can cause varying degrees of haemolytic anaemia, splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia and fever. Babesia organisms are frequently classified as either large or small. All small Babesia infections were previously attributed to B. gibsoni, but molecular analysis and DNA sequencing have revealed that there are at least three small piroplasms which infect dogs. Correctly identifying the infectious agent is important for treatment planning and prognosis. In this report, the first case of Babesia gibsoni infection in a Polish dog is presented.

Differences in serum protein electrophoretic pattern in dogs naturally infected with Babesia gibsoni and Babesia canis

“…On the other hand, Ishimine et al 4 observed severe hemolytic anemia in the peripheral blood of beagles infected with B. gibsoni on the 2nd to the 3rd week post infection, induced by the destruction of red blood cells by parasites as they leave red blood cells. Similarly, a significant reduction in RBC and hemoglobin concentration was recorded by Bilwal et al 29 , Adaszek et al 1 and Yogeshpriya et al 30 in dogs naturally infected with B. gibsoni when compared to apparently healthy dogs, as a result of antibody-mediated cytotoxic or non-immune mediated destruction of circulating red blood cells. In the present study, differences were obtained also between the two evaluated Babesia species, with markedly lower RBC values, Hb concentrations, as well as Hct values in dogs infected with B. gibsoni than in those with uncomplicated form of B. canis infection, suggesting a longer lasting process of red blood cell destruction by small B. gibsoni parasites.…”

“…Yogeshpriya et al 30 observed no marked differences in the albumin concentrations between dogs naturally infected with B. gibsoni and healthy dogs. On the other hand, the laboratory studies conducted by Adaszek et al 1 showed in dogs infected with B. gibsoni decreased concentrations of albumin. Even though the results of our study showed no marked differences in the absolute values of albumin between the dogs infected with B. gibsoni and all B. canis infected dogs, significantly lower mean value was recorded in the group of complicated form of B. canis infection compared to B. gibsoni group of dogs.…”

“…Infections caused with B. canis are more common, but recently, due to global climate changes, B. gibsoni has been recognized as an important pathogen that affects dogs also in Middle Europe. Cases have been reported in Germany, Croatia, as well as from Serbia and Poland 1 , 17 , 18 . The infection with B. gibsoni mostly causes mild clinical signs which are manifested as a subclinical infection or associated only with weight loss and weakness 7 .…”

“…Canine babesiosis is an important widespread haemoprotozoan parasitic infection documented principally throughout Asia, Africa, Japan and South America, but recently there has been an increase in the rate of transmission of such diseases which were previously considered as exotic or atypical for the dogs in Europe 1 . Infections have been reported also from various regions of Australia and North America 2 .…”

Babesia gibsoni emerging with high prevalence and co-infections in “fighting dogs” in Hungary

“…However, owing to the possibility of its spread by other means, the sporadic, autochthonous occurrence of B. gibsoni has also been documented north of the Mediterranean Basin ( Solano-Gallego et al, 2016 ). In particular, clinical cases have been reported from Mediterranean countries (Croatia, Italy and Spain), Serbia, Romania and, in addition, from Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and the UK ( Smith and Wall, 2013 ; Solano-Gallego et al, 2016 ; Víchová et al, 2016 ; Adaszek et al., 2018 ). However, in Europe, data are incomplete in terms of geographical distribution and prevalence.…”