Abstract

The Babesia genus includes intracellular pathogens that can infect the erythrocytes of various species, including humans, dogs, cats, horses, and wild mammals. A five-year-old female Labrador Retriever was brought in with symptoms such as reduced appetite, fever, laboured breathing, lethargy, and dark yellow urine. Clinical examination showed an elevated body temperature (104.5ºF), pale mucous membranes, a severe tick infestation, and enlarged prescapular lymph nodes. Routine blood tests, serum biochemistry, peripheral blood smear examination, and PCR were conducted. Haematological results revealed severe regenerative anaemia, and the blood smear displayed numerous signet ring- shaped Babesia gibsoni parasites (+++) in the red blood cells. The diagnosis was confirmed through Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The dog was treated with a combination of doxycycline, clindamycin, and metronidazole. After ten days, the dog showed significant clinical improvement, and follow-up blood smears were negative for Babesia parasites. This case demonstrated the successful use of triple drug therapy in completely eliminating a natural infection caused by Babesia gibsoni in a dog.

Keywords : Babesia, Doxycycline, Haemoprotozoan, Triple drug therapy