Generalized alopecia with vasculitis-like changes in a dog with babesiosis

Vasculitis cutánea asociada a Ehrlichiosis canina. Reporte de un caso clínico

La Ehrlichiosis canina puede desencadenar vasculitis cutánea por mecanismos inmunopatogénicos, como lo hacen las Rickettsia y Leishmania, entre otros. La vasculitis se refiere a la inflamación de los vasos sanguíneos de la piel que resulta en alteración del flujo sanguíneo y necrosis isquémica de la piel. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo reportar el caso de un perro, macho entero de cuatro años de edad, que presentaba lesiones alopécicas erosivas-ulcerativas y algunas costrosas en cabeza, plano nasal, regiones de flexión, pabellón auricular y punta de cola. Se realizó un hemograma, confirmando anemia, normocítica normocrómica no regenerativa, leucocitos aún normales con linfopenia, y trombocitopenia. En el frotis sanguíneo se determinó la presencia de mórulas basofílicas en monocitos, hallazgos compatibles con Ehrlichia spp. Se procedió a tratar al paciente con Prednisolona 1 miligramo·kilogramo-1 –mg·kg-1– cada 24 horas –h– por 10 días –d-, Pentoxifilina 15 mg cada 12 h por 120 d, 500 mg de Doxiciclina y 500 mg de Niacinamida cada 12 h por 20 d. Se realizaron dos controles (lesiones cutáneas) una a los 21 d y la otra a los 60 d. Se concluye que el tratamiento fue satisfactorio, donde el paciente se recuperó totalmente luego del tratamiento administrado.

The Etiology, Incidence, Pathogenesis, Diagnostics, and Treatment of Canine Babesiosis Caused by Babesia gibsoni Infection

Babesia gibsoni is one of the small Babesia species and the infection this pathogen causes is usually asymptomatic, which complicates the capture of potential parasite carriers. In endemic areas, especially in Asia, B. gibsoni occurs quite often due to direct transmission by way of a tick vector. Due to the absence of vectors, its occurrence is described only sporadically in Europe; but, it is increasingly occurring in predisposed, so-called fighting breeds, especially the American pit bull terrier. This review describes the etiology, incidence, clinical signs, pathogenesis, diagnostics, and treatment of B. gibsoni infection, with an emphasis on the clinical and laboratory peculiarities of the disease. As the treated dogs do not eliminate the parasite from the body-only reducing parasitemia and improving clinical signs-the treatment of B. gibsoni infection is a challenge in many cases, and its study therefore deserves great attention.

Canine babesiosis: a perspective on clinical complications, biomarkers, and treatment

Canine babesiosis is a common tick transmitted disease of dogs worldwide. A number of Babesia sp. can infect dogs and the spectrum is increasing as molecular methods are developed to differentiate organisms. Clinical signs are generally attributed to hemolysis caused by the organisms in the erythrocytes but in some animals with some Babesia spp. there can be an immune mediated component to the anemia and/or a severe inflammatory reaction associated. This complicated form of canine babesiosis is associated with high morbidity and mortality. A variety of clinical markers has been investigated to enable clinicians to provide more accurate prognoses and adapt their treatments which vary according to the infecting species. In this review, we discuss the taxonomy, clinical signs, diagnostic imaging, clinical biomarkers, treatment, and prophylaxis of one of the most common and important diseases of dogs worldwide.