BABESIOSIS IN CANINES & FELINES
Babesiosis—It is a disease condition involving Protozoan Blood organism of Erythrocytes specifically Babesia species of B.canis, B.gibsoni in Dogs and B. felis in Cat.
Types of Babesia affecting Dog & Cat—
- Babesia canis- Affect Dogs—It is single or paired Pyrifom bodies in RBC located as “Heinz bodies” intracellularly as a large mass in the centre of RBC measuring 2 x 5 mill micron. It is exhibited in many RBCs.
- Babesia gibsoni—Affect Dogs– It is single annular bodies in RBC located as “Heinz bodies” intracellularly as a large mass in the centre of RBC measuring 1 x 3.2 mill micron. It is exhibited in small number of RBCs. It may show false sero-positive test if co infested by B.canis , Toxoplasma neosporia.
- Babesia felis-Affect Cats– It is single annular bodies in RBC located as a large mass in the periphery protruding outside of RBC as ‘Heinz bodies” . felis,B,cati,B.herpiaris,B.panthara is affecting Cats.
- Mode of transmission—
- Tick-(Ixodos Ticks)–It is transmitted by Ticks .The Babesia organism is entered to RBC where it is converted to Merozoits to invade & infect other RBCs
Transplacental transmission
Diagnosis— For peripheral blood smear the blood is to be collected from ear vein prick for successful( non erroneous) result.
- Auto-Agglutination Test—
- Direct Coombs’ Test–
- IFA ( Indirect Immuno Fluorescent Assay)Test-
- DNA Test-
- Peripheral Blood smear Examination-( ear vein prick)-
- Immuno diagnosis-
- ELISA Test-
- “Heinz body” ( in blood smear) appearance in RBC ( centrally large mass in Dog & Peripherally protruded on RBC membrane in Cat)
(NB—1–IFA & DNA test only can illustrate species differentiate B. canis & B.gibsoni
2- Dogs are more toxic to Onion,Garlic,Napthaline Ball than Cats)
Biochemistry finding—
- Dog-Liver enzyme, BUN, WBC, albumin etc. increase but in Cat( ALP-increase)
- Decrease of Potassium, thrombocytes, lymphoadenopathy, Spleenomagally,
- For gibsoni–IFA Titre is > 1:320 indicates +ve for Babesia
Pathological findings—
- If Babesia agent found inside RBC then Haemolytic anaemia due to haemagglutinition( Hb affected)
- If Babesia agent found periphery of RBC then RBC membrane damage
Symptoms—
- Hyperthermia
- Water hammer type pulse
- Vomition
- Blood Diarrhoea
- Dark Urine( but no blood like LA)
- Anti cholinergic effects like-hyper salivation, Dyspnea, Seizer, GIT disorder( vomition & diarrhoea etc),
- Pale Mucus membrane
- Secondary to IMHA()
- Icterus
- Hepatomegally & Spleenomagally
- Tachycardia
- Shock
- Polyarthrities & polymyositis
- Anorexia, dullness etc.
Treatment—
- Imidocarb dipropionate—( can be given for canis,B,gibsoni,Ehrlichia canis)(Also used in treatment of pesticide & Chemical poisoning)–
- (120mg/ml)—50 ml vial –imizol or imizet-12% W/V of 10 ml vial
- Route of Administration—I/M or S/C
- Dog-@ 6.6 mg/Kg BW of single injection followed by another injection on 14 days if required but effective for 6 weeks & 4 weeks for Ticks
Supportive Treatment for Haemolytic Anemia,Dehydration,Acidosis as consequence to this disease
- Immunosuppressive Drugs—( to control immune mediated haemolytic anaemia)–Prednisolone @ 2-4 mg/Kg for 2-3 weeks
- Before Imidocarb injection use Atropine sulphate –S/C- @ 0.5 MG/Kg-30 minutes before administration of Imidocarb to check hyper salivation it is a antisilagouge drug.
- Metronidazole drug-@ 25 mg/Kg-thrice daily-orally-for 14 days( Also can be given in methonoglobenurea
- Diminazine aceturate( Berenil)– Diminazine-20 mg/ml phenazine+375 mg/ml ) 1 ml/20 Kg –I/M-in LA but Dog-0.1 ml/2 Kg BW –I/M-single dose only
- AB
- Blood transfusion
( ONLY FOR CAT)–Primaquine phosphate-( Also given for Malaria—Plasmodium Vivax & Plasmodium falsiform)-@ 1 mg/per Cat/on every 36 hours / for 4 weeks followed by @ 1mg/per Cat/orally/ on every 7 Days/ for 4 weeks + Doxycyclin @ 5 mg/Kg/twice daily/ orally/for 21 Days
- Phenamidine isethionate( also given in AIDS infestation) with imidocarb
- Tick control
- Babesia Vaccine( available in Europe)
Side effects—
- Before treatment consider health status of Liver,Kidney,Lungs
- Glucocorticoid drugs administration & spleenactomy enhances Babesia infestation
- Haemolytic anaemia( also in Zinc toxicity( engulfing galvanised iron/Iron Nuts & Bolts), acetaminophen drug)
- Methonoglobenurea ( Treat- @ 0.2 mg/Kg BW –slow I/V-
- Also side effects of Acetaminophen drug, methylene blue-I/V, DC-methionine, phenacetin, Vit-K( if given > 1.5 mg/Kg/daily)
- Hyper salivation
- Seizer
Prepared & presented by Dr.Keshaba Chandra Samantaray ,M. V. Sc. (Gynaecology), Gold Medallist, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Retired-Joint Director, Frozen Semen Bank, Chiplima, Sambalpur, Govt. of Odisha.
