PREVALENCE, PHYSIOLOGICAL, BIOCHEMICAL BLOOD ALTERATIONS AND EVALUATION OF THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF THE PARASITIC BLOOD DISEASE CAUSED BY Babesia spp. IN DOGS

Abstract

This study was conducted on 1,437 dogs presented for examination and treatment at veterinary clinics in Ho Chi Minh city to diagnose hemoparasitic infections through clinical examination, May-Giemsa staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The prevalence of Babesia spp. was 3.83% (55/1,437). 100% (20/20) identified as Babesia-positive by staining techniques were also confirmed positive by PCR. Free-ranging dogs (6.62%) had a higher Babesia infection than captivity dogs (2.48%). Dogs aged from 1 to 5 years (6.77%) and those over 5 years old (6.61%) were a higher infection rate compared to dogs under 1 year of age (1.51%). Male dogs (5.34%) were more frequently infected than female dogs (2.49%). Dogs infested with ticks (5.24%) were a higher Babesia spp. detection than those not infested with ticks (1.20%). Predominant clinical manifestations in Babesia-infected dogs included tick infestation (89.09%), anorexia (85.45%) and pale mucous membranes (30.91%). Hematological abnormalities among infected dogs revealed thrombocytopenia (92.31%; 43.69 × 10⁹/L), erythrocytopenia (58.97%; 2.84 × 10¹²/L), leukocytosis (10.26%; 23.71 × 10⁹/L) and leukopenia (38.46%; 3.68 × 10⁹/L). Biochemical serum profiles of Babesia-positive dogs showed elevated levels of total bilirubin (47.62%; 1.47 mg/dL), alanine aminotransferase (38.1%; 389.5 U/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (52.38%; 207.3 U/L) and reduced concentrations of albumin (47.62%; 1.73 g/dL), total protein (28.57%; 3.98 g/dL) and globulin (14.29%; 1.57 g/dL). Hyperglobulinemia was also observed in 14.29% of the cases (6.7 g/dL). The treatment efficacy of imidocarb dipropionate in Babesia-infected dogs was 89.09%.