First case of babesiosis caused by Babesia canis canis in a dog from Norway

SummaryThe aim of this paper was to present the first case of cerebral canine babesiosis due to infection by Babesia canis in a dog in Poland. A 5-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier was presented with an unusual clinical manifestation of acute babesiosis that included neurological signs and pancytopenia. Despite treatment the dog died. Diagnosis was based on microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears (detection of piroplasms in red blood cells) and post mortem examination of the brain by histopathology and PCR method. The amplified segment of the Babesia 18S RNA gene was sequenced. This enabled to determine that the cause of the disease had been the strain 18S RNA-B EU622793. This is one of two B. canis strains found endemically in Poland, which reveals a greater virulence than the strain 18S RNA-A EU622792. The described case indicates that this form of canine babesiosis should be taken into account in differential diagnosis in dogs exhibiting neurological symptoms, especially in the tick activity season.

Download Full-text

Molecular detection of co-infections with Anaplasma phagocytophilum and/or Babesia canis canis in Dirofilaria-positive dogs from Slovakia

Veterinary Parasitology ◽

10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.01.022 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 203 (1-2) ◽

pp. 167-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Bronislava Víchová ◽

Martina Miterpáková ◽

Adriana Iglódyová

Keyword(s):

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽

Molecular Detection ◽

Babesia Canis ◽

Babesia Canis Canis

Download Full-text

The prevention of transmission of Babesia canis canis by Dermacentor reticulatus ticks to dogs using a novel combination of fipronil, amitraz and (S)-methoprene

Veterinary Parasitology ◽

10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.03.047 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 179 (4) ◽

pp. 343-350 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Frans Jongejan ◽

Josephus J. Fourie ◽

S. Theodore Chester ◽

Coralie Manavella ◽

Yasmina Mallouk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dermacentor Reticulatus ◽

Babesia Canis ◽

Babesia Canis Canis

Download Full-text

The loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for rapid diagnosis of Babesia canis canis infections in dogs

Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences ◽

10.2478/pjvs-2013-0020 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 131-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ł. Adaszek ◽

M. Jankowska ◽

M. Kalinowski ◽

T. Banach ◽

D. Wułupek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Specificity ◽

Isothermal Amplification ◽

Lamp Method ◽

Babesia Canis ◽

Canine Babesiosis ◽

Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification ◽

Specificity And Sensitivity ◽

Amplification Assay ◽

Analytical Laboratories ◽

Babesia Canis Canis

Abstract The aim of this study was to use a rapid and easy DNA-based test, the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), for diagnosis of Babesia canis canis infections in dogs. 10 DNA samples of 18S RNA-A and 10 DNA samples of 18S RNA-B of B. canis canis were used in the study. LAMP method could successfully detect DNA in all examined samples down to 0.1 pg dilution. Obtained results suggest that this method has high specificity and sensitivity and can be applied in analytical laboratories in diagnosis of canine babesiosis.

Download Full-text

Molecular evidence of natural infection with Babesia canis canis in Croatia

Acta Veterinaria Hungarica ◽

10.1556/avet.58.2010.1.4 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 39-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Mirna Brkljačić ◽

Vesna Matijatko ◽

Ivana Kiš ◽

Nada Kučer ◽

Jadranka Foršek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sequence Analysis ◽

Genetic Variant ◽

Natural Infection ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Babesia Canis ◽

Nucleotide Difference ◽

Dark Urine ◽

Blood Smears ◽

Babesia Canis Canis

The aim of the present study was to detect and characterise the species and subspecies of Babesia spp. that cause canine babesiosis in Croatia. Twenty-eight dogs with typical signs of babesiosis (lethargy, anorexia, fever, dark urine and thrombocytopenia) were included in this study. Their blood smears showed the presence of Babesia canis . The results showed the detection of one subspecies, namely Babesia canis canis using PCR, and subsequent sequence analysis demonstrated portions of the nss rRNA gene in 27 out of 28 samples. Sequence analysis of the isolates showed 100% identity in 11 samples, 99.7% identity (one nucleotide difference) in 11 samples and 99.4% identity (two nucleotides difference) in 5 samples with B. canis canis . The results of this study confirm the presence of B. canis canis in infected dogs in Croatia and demonstrate a slightly new genetic variant of Babesia subspecies.

Download Full-text

Postmortem small babesia-like morphology of Babesia canis — Short communication

Acta Veterinaria Hungarica ◽

10.1556/avet.2011.029 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 59 (4) ◽

pp. 427-432 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Zoltán Demeter ◽

Elena Palade ◽

Éva Balogh ◽

Csaba Jakab ◽

Róbert Farkas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Causative Agent ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Severe Anaemia ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Babesia Canis ◽

Post Mortem ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Tissue Sections ◽

Sequence Identity ◽

Babesia Canis Canis

Here we report a case of canine babesiosis with unusual morphology of the causative agent. A male, seven-week-old Labrador retriever puppy, exhibiting severe anaemia and haemoglobinuria, was presented at the Clinic of Internal Medicine in February 2011. The puppy was euthanised. The most relevant pathological changes were icterus, severe splenomegaly, generalised lymphadenopathy and haemoglobin nephrosis. Samples were collected from various organs for histology within one hour post mortem. Impression smears were also prepared from the spleen after overnight storage at 4 °C. Tissue sections and smears showed the presence of multiple, coccoid intraerythrocytic bodies that measured 1–2 μm and resembled small babesiae. No large piroplasms were seen. DNA was extracted from the spleen, and a conventional PCR was performed for the amplification of a 450-bp region of the 18S rRNA gene of piroplasms. The causative agent was identified as Babesia canis canis, with 99% sequence identity to other European isolates. Sequence identity to B. gibsoni was only 91%. This is the first account to verify that the morphology of the large canine piroplasm, B. canis, can be uniformly small babesia-like post mortem or following the storage of tissue samples.

Download Full-text

Assessment of primers designed for the subspecies-specific discrimination among Babesia canis canis, Babesia canis vogeli and Babesia canis rossi by PCR assay

Veterinary Parasitology ◽

10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.12.013 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 152 (1-2) ◽

pp. 16-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Sabrina Castilho Duarte ◽

Guido Fontgalland Coelho Linhares ◽

Tatiana Nunes Romanowsky ◽

Osvaldo José da Silveira Neto ◽

Ligia Miranda Ferreira Borges

Keyword(s):

Babesia Canis ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

Babesia Canis Canis

Download Full-text

In-clinic laboratory diagnosis of canine babesiosis (Babesia canis canis) for veterinary practitioners in Central Europe

Tierärztliche Praxis Ausgabe K Kleintiere / Heimtiere ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1623628 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 40 (02) ◽

pp. 87-94 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

M. Leschnik ◽

E. Hooijberg ◽

A. Tichy ◽

E. Leidinger ◽

G. Kirtz

Keyword(s):

Reticulocyte Count ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Laboratory Diagnosis ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Babesia Canis ◽

Canine Babesiosis ◽

Vector Activity ◽

Red Blood Cell Count ◽

Haematological Changes ◽

Babesia Canis Canis

Summary Objective: Haematological changes in dogs and climatic conditions favourable for the vector may assist in the quick in-house diagnosis of canine babesiosis. Material and methods: Blood samples from 358 dogs suspected to have canine babesiosis were evaluated. The diagnosis was confirmed in 113 dogs by detection of Babesia canis by microscopic examination of a stained blood smear using the concentration line technique. Results: Thrombocytopenia was present in all 113 dogs. Red blood cell count, packed cell volume and haemoglobin values were below the reference range in 62.8%, 61.1% and 46.0% of affected dogs, respectively. An increased reticulocyte count was apparent in five Babesia canis-positive dogs. Leukopenia, lymphopenia, neutropenia and monocytosis were present in 54.9%, 47.8%, 30.4% and 6.5% of the dogs, respectively. Evaluating haematological parameters by CARTanalysis revealed a predictive model (accuracy = 93.5%) for canine babesiosis, when using the leucocyte, thrombocyte, and reticulocyte count. Climatic conditions present at the most probable time of Babesia canis-infection accounted for biseasonal occurrence. Changes of climatic factors during the year influence the vector activity and in conclusion should highlight babesiosis in the ranking of differentials for veterinarians. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that a tentative diagnosis of canine babesiosis can be made based on typical haematological changes. The results recorded match well with the seasonality of the tick vector and were confirmed here by the month of sample submission.

Download Full-text