A case of Babesia gibsoni possibly developed by transplacental infection
2005
Ushigusa, T.(Kannai Animal Clinic, Yokohama (Japan)) | Mizuishi, Y. | Katuyama, Y. | Sunaga, F. | Namikawa, K. | Kanno, Y.
A bitch with an inapparent Babesia gibsoni (B. gibsoni) infection gave birth to a litter of 6 pups. One of them showed severe anemia on day 8 after birth and B. gibsoni organisms were recognized in Giemsa-stained blood smears from the pup. Furthermore, another pup showed severe anemia caused by B. gibsoni infection on day 29 after birth. But other 4 pups were negative for Babesia infection by PCR amplification and microscopic observation of Giemsa-stained blood smear. The two infected pups received blood transfusion and treatment with a high dose of clindamycin. These treatments were effective for weight gain and recovery of normal PCV without recurrence. Anti-B. gibsoni antibody titer was elevated, as determined by immuno- fluorescence testing (IFAT). The mother dog showed no symptoms before and after delivery but was strongly positive for ant-B. gibsoni antibodies. She was also positive for Babesia infection by PCR amplification but negative for the pathogenic agent by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears. This clinical case suggested that transplacental transmission was one of the natural infection routes of B. gibsoni and only some of litter mates were infected by this route, and further that one of these infected pups showed severe anemia later for 21 days than the other one. Moreover, the present case revealed that clindamycin was an effective therapeutic agent for the pups with B. gibsoni infection.
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