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Review
. 2015 Apr 10:6:119-128.
doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S60431. eCollection 2015.

Canine babesiosis: a perspective on clinical complications, biomarkers, and treatment

Liza S Köster  1 , Remo G Lobetti  2 , Patrick Kelly  1
Affiliations
Review

Canine babesiosis: a perspective on clinical complications, biomarkers, and treatment

Liza S Köster et al. Vet Med (Auckl). .

Abstract

Canine babesiosis is a common tick transmitted disease of dogs worldwide. A number of Babesia sp. can infect dogs and the spectrum is increasing as molecular methods are developed to differentiate organisms. Clinical signs are generally attributed to hemolysis caused by the organisms in the erythrocytes but in some animals with some Babesia spp. there can be an immune mediated component to the anemia and/or a severe inflammatory reaction associated. This complicated form of canine babesiosis is associated with high morbidity and mortality. A variety of clinical markers has been investigated to enable clinicians to provide more accurate prognoses and adapt their treatments which vary according to the infecting species. In this review, we discuss the taxonomy, clinical signs, diagnostic imaging, clinical biomarkers, treatment, and prophylaxis of one of the most common and important diseases of dogs worldwide.

Keywords: babesiosis; dog; vector-borne disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors have no conflicts of interest in this work.

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