Vol. 9, Issue 7 (2020)

Author(s):
Senthil NR, Chakravarthi R and Vairamuthu S

Abstract:
Canine Babesiosis is the common vector-borne haemoprotozoan disease distributed all over the world. Two organisms are known to cause Canine Babesiosis in India: Babesia gibsoni and Babesia canis. The present work was based on retrospective study of 11,000 blood smears of dogs received over a period of nine years (2010 to 2019) in and around Chennai at Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital. On blood smear examination 3,840 blood smears were found to be positive for various Haemoprotozoan diseases. Among the recorded positive cases, 1187 (30.9%) cases were positive for Canine Babesiosis of which 837 cases (70.5%) were positive for Babesia gibsoni and 350 cases (29.5%) were positive for Babesia canis. The percentage change in occurrence of Babesia gibsoni in 2012 (-41.8%), 2013 (+36.9%), 2014 (-63.5%), 2015 (+34.8%), 2016 (+135.5%), 2017 (+87.7%), 2018 (+2.9%) and 2019 (73.1%). The percentage change in occurrence of Babesia canis in 2012 (-38.5%), 2013 (-12.5%), 2014 (+44%), 2015 (-20%), 2016 (-10%), 2017 (+172.2%), 2018 (+61.2%) and 2019 (30.4%). Season-wise occurrence of the disease recorded highest cases in winter (35%) followed by Monsoon (32.2%), Summer (21.6%) and Autumn (20.6%). The most frequent symptoms were fever, anorexia, apathy, abdominal pain, lymphadenopathy and dyspnoea. Regarding haematological alterations, 87.7% of the animals presented anemia, 73.5% presented thrombocytopenia, 43.4% presented leucopenia and 31.3% presented pancytopenia. Based on clinical presentation, generalised form (89%), cerebral form (7%) and Occular form (4%). The temporal distribution and symptom-wise study would help the veterinary physician to identify the trends in occurrence of disease and clinical pattern followed by the protozoa, which helps in treatment and control of Canine Babesiosis in dog population.