Clinical, Hematologic, and Molecular Findings of Babesia canis vogeli in a Naturally Infected Dog at Colima, México: First Case Reported

Abstract

Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia (Starcovici, 1893). Canine babesiosis cases occurring worldwide are associated mainly with Babesia gibsoni (Patton, 1910) and Babesia canis (Piana and Galli-Valerio, 1895), the latter reclassified into three sub-species: B. canis canis (Piana and Galli-Valerio, 1895), B. canis rossi (Nuttall, 1910), and B. canis vogeli (Reichenow, 1937). A 7-month-old male, Siberian husky dog, Canis familiaris (Linnaeus, 1758) infested with ticks was taken to a veterinary clinic at Colima, Mexico. Symptoms at clinical examination of the dog included: weakness, pale mucous membranes, decreased capillary filling time (≥4 seconds), fever (39.8°C), left abdominal distension, and pain. Radiographic images showed moderate splenomegaly. Hematological study revealed reduction in packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte count, platelet count, and leukocyte count. Microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears showed pyriform-shaped bodies inside erythrocytes, compatible with a large Babesia spp. Molecular analysis indicated a Babesia spp. in the blood. The study describes the first case reported at Colima, Mexico, where B. canis vogeli infection was confirmed in a dog.