Abstract
Canine babesiosis is a common, highly virulent disease in Southern Africa with even pups and juveniles being severely affected. This contrasts with bovine babesiosis, for example, where host, parasite and vector co-evolved and young animals develop immunity after infection without showing clinical signs. Babesia rossi, the main causative organism of canine babesiosis in sub-Saharan Africa, was first described from a side-striped jackal (Canis adustus) in Kenya. Although data are meagre, there is evidence that indigenous African canids, such as jackals and wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), can harbour the parasite without showing untoward effects. Dogs are not indigenous to Africa. The vast majority of dogs presented at veterinary facilities in South Africa represent recently introduced European, Asian or American breeds. The contention is that B. rossi is a new challenge to which these dogs have not adapted. With intensive treatment of clinical cases, natural selection is effectively negated and the status quo will probably be maintained indefinitely. It is postulated that Babesia vogeli, which frequently results in unapparent infections or mild manifestations in dogs, represents or is closely related to the ancestral form of the canine parasite, possibly originating from wolves (Canis lupus).
Highlights
Babesiosis is one of the most important canine diseases in South Africa
At the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital on the outskirts of Pretoria, South Africa, around 12% of sick dogs presented are diagnosed with babesiosis, and around 31% of these are admitted for more intensive treatment [2]
Clinical babesiosis is diagnosed in around 12% of dogs presented at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital, where H. elliptica is the most common tick on dogs, while babesiosis was uncommon at another veterinary clinic, situated in a densely populated urban area around 20 km away, where R. sanguineus was the most common dog tick recovered [62,65]
Summary
Babesiosis is one of the most important canine diseases in South Africa. Countrywide, babesiosis is diagnosed in around 10% of dogs presented to veterinary practices [1]. Trophozoites presumed to be Babesia canis (probably B. rossi) were seen in 2/29 (6.9%) of wild dog blood smears from the Kruger National Park, South Africa [58], while a single piroplasm, possibly a Babesia sp., was seen on a blood smear from 1/16 wild dogs in Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania [59] This scant evidence fits the general picture, and would seem to suggest that indigenous African canids are able to cope with B. rossi infection and become subclinical carriers of the parasite. Haemaphysalis elliptica, the only known vector of B. rossi, is common on South Africa domestic dogs, especially those in peri-urban or rural areas It is rarely recovered from indigenous canids, but has been reported from captive and free-ranging wild dogs [58,60]. They are confronted by an alien parasite, B. rossi, and are fully susceptible
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