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Objective, material and methods: The aim of this study was to analyse the protein fractions of the soluble parasitic antigen (SPA) from in vitro cultures of the native Polish strains of Babesia canis canis and to determine their immunogenicity through Western blotting using the sera of dogs vaccinated with this antigen. Results: Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed 21 protein fractions with molecular weights from 12 to 205 kDa. The most intense reaction in Western blotting was observed between the serum antibodies of the SPA-vaccinated dogs and the fraction with the molecular weight of 52 kDa. Conclusion: Detailed studies on the composition of SPA of Babesia canis canis and reactivity of its individual protein fractions can be a starting point for the development of subunit vaccines against babesiosis. Using a preparation with only some electrophoretic fractions of SPA in the production of vaccines would allow to avoid putting an unnecessary protein burden in the vaccine which could cause side effects.

The 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.