1. An atypical case of Babesia bigemina parasitising a dog from a rural area of eastern Mexico.
- Author
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Bravo-Ramos JL, Sánchez-Montes S, Ballados-González GG, Romero-Salas D, Gamboa-Prieto J, and Olivares-Muñoz A
- Subjects
- Animals, Cattle, Dogs, Mexico, Polymerase Chain Reaction veterinary, Babesia genetics, Babesiosis diagnosis, Babesiosis drug therapy, Babesiosis parasitology, Cattle Diseases parasitology, Dog Diseases diagnosis, Dog Diseases drug therapy
- Abstract
A dog that shared habitat with domestic animals in a cattle farm and that was exposed to wildlife was taken to a private practitioner for clinical examination. The analyses conducted on the patient revealed the presence of Babesia bigemina by a molecular test. Clinical signs such as lethargy, anorexia and hyperthermia > 39 °C, pale mucous membranes and blood urine were observed in the patient. The animal was treated with imidocarb dipropionate (two doses each 0.5 ml/10 kg b.w. at an interval of 14 days). On treatment day 7, the clinical signs were mostly reduced. On day 30, PCR was carried out to assess the efficacy of the treatment, with a negative result. This case represents the first report of babesiosis due to B. bigemina in a dog living on a cattle farm in Mexico. It indicates the lower host specify of these pathogens and that dogs can play a role as sentinels of vector-borne parasites in livestock animals.
- Published
- 2022
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