FIRST REPORT OF BABESIA GIBSONI AND BABESIA VULPES IN SYMPTOMATIC DOGS FROM CROATIA: FROM CLINICS TO THERAPY

Piroplasmosis is one of most important tick-borne disease in dogs. Except well known Babesia canis small piroplasms B. gibsoni, B. vulpes have been detected in asymptomatic dogs in Croatia. Here we report first B. gibsoni and B. vulpesclinical cases in Croatia, molecular characterisation and treatement efficiency. Blood samples of four dogs with confirmed small merozoites showing anemia and thrombocytopenia were analyzed using SNAP®4DX® Plus, SNAP® Leishmania and conventional PCR to Anaplasma/Ehrlichia, Babesia/Theileria and Mycoplasma sp.. Positive samples were sequenced. Small merozites were initially assumed to be B. gibsoni. Sequencing revealed B. gibsoni in three (Dog 1, 2, 3) and B. vulpes in one dog (Dog 4). Lethargy, weakness, pale mucous membranes, splenomegaly, anemia and severe thrombocytopenia were observed in two B. gibsoni (Dog 1, 2) infected dogs. First one had a history of long-term immunosupressive therapy due to cataract. Dog 3 co-infected with M. haemtoparvum and B. gibsoni had chronical skin problems with scars all over the body. B. vulpes infected dog showed only anorexia, lethargy and anemia. Several drug combinations (imidocarb diproprionate, imidocarb diproprionate and doxycycline in Dog 1 and 2 ; doxycycline, metronidazole and enrofloxacine in Dog 1) in B. gibsoni cases resulted in improvment of health condition but not in elimination of pathogens. Final combination of atovaquone and azythromicine resulted in full clinical recovery, parasite clearance and permanent health improvement during follow up period (Dog 1 and 3). In case of B. vulpes infection doxycycline administration suggested an apparent clinical recovery. Described cases clearly showed that small piroplasms should always be included in differential diagnosis in cases of anorexia, lethargy, weakness, anemia and thrombocytopenia. Due to almost identical morphology of merozoites species have to be confirmed with molecular methods because of different drug efficiency.