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. 2019 Sep;33(5):2075-2081.
doi: 10.1111/jvim.15560. Epub 2019 Jul 23.

Prevalence of Babesia spp. and clinical characteristics of Babesia vulpes infections in North American dogs

Nanelle R Barash  1 , Brittany Thomas  1 , Adam J Birkenheuer  1 , Edward B Breitschwerdt  1   2 , Erica Lemler  3 , Barbara A Qurollo  1   2
Affiliations

Prevalence of Babesia spp. and clinical characteristics of Babesia vulpes infections in North American dogs

Nanelle R Barash et al. J Vet Intern Med. 2019 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Babesiosis is an important cause of thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia in dogs. Babesia vulpes, reported in European dogs and North American foxes, rarely has been reported in domestic North American dogs. Newly optimized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers facilitate more sensitive amplification of B. vulpes DNA.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Babesia sp. infections in dogs being tested for Babesia infection, and to describe co-infections and clinicopathologic abnormalities in B. vulpes positive dogs.

Animals: Dog blood or tissue samples (n = 9367) submitted to a diagnostic laboratory between June 2015 and June 2018 were tested using an optimized Babesia PCR assay.

Methods: Comprehensive canine vector-borne disease diagnostic testing was performed on convenience samples.

Results: Babesia sp. DNA was amplified from 269/9367 (2.9%) North American dogs. Babesia sp. infections included B. gibsoni monoinfection (157; 1.7%), B. vulpes monoinfection (19; 0.20%), and B. gibsoni and B. vulpes coinfection (29; 0.31%). Forty-three of the 48 total B. vulpes-infected dogs were American Pit Bull Terrier-type breeds, of which 36 historically were involved with dog fights. Coinfections with Mycoplasma, Dirofilaria immitis, or Wolbachia and coexposures to Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia spp. were documented in B. vulpes-infected dogs. Clinicopathologic data in B. vulpes-infected dogs both with and without coinfections included anemia, thrombocytopenia, hyperglobulinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and proteinuria.

Conclusions and clinical importance: Babesia vulpes infection in domestic North American dogs is commonly found in conjunction with other coinfections, including B. gibsoni and hemotropic Mycoplasma. Similar to B. gibsoni, dog-to-dog transmission of B. vulpes may be a frequent mode of transmission.

Keywords: B. vulpes; Babesia; hemolytic anemia; prevalence; tick; vector-borne disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Nanelle R. Barash received a Boehringer‐Ingelheim Resident‐Postdoctoral Scholar Sponsorship.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic of experimental design
Figure 2
Figure 2
Venn diagram describing major coinfections found within all dogs positive for either Babesia vulpes (n = 48) or Babesia gibsoni (n = 186), for a total of 205 dogs infected with either piroplasm
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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