Canine babesiosis: Epidemiological, molecular and therapeutic investigations

Canine babesiosis, caused by Babesia gibsoni (Asian genotype), is an emerging infectious disease in the United States (US). A serologic and molecular survey was performed to test the hypothesis that B. gibsoni was endemic in NC and to determine the prevalence of infection in affected kennels. Stray dogs (n = 359) and kennel dogs (n = 149) from NC were tested. This study documented the presence of previously unrecognized B. gibsoni infections in NC. In addition, the study documented that the B. gibsoni seroprevalence and infection in affected kennels were high.; A second study was performed to identify breed pre-dispositions for canine babesiosis and document the states from which Babesia positive blood samples were submitted to the North Carolina State University Vector-Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NCSU-VBDDL). In addition, a subset of dogs was studied to detect an association between a recent dog bite and B. gibsoni infections. Canine Babesia infections were identified in dogs from 29 US states and Canada. These cases were the first B. gibsoni (Asian genotype) infections documented in 27/29 states.; No treatments tested to date have cleared B. gibsoni (Asian genotype) infections from dogs. So in a final study, a double-blind placebo controlled trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy of an atovaquone and azithromycin combination for the treatment of canine B. gibsoni (Asian genotype) infections. Eighty percent (8/10) of the treatment group had no detectable B. gibsoni (Asian genotype) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), by a sensitive and specific polymerase chain (PCR) test, in any of their post-treatment samples. In contrast, B. gibsoni (Asian genotype) DNA was detectable by PCR in the post-treatment samples from one hundred percent (11/11) of the placebo treated dogs. The atovaquone and azithromycin drug combination is the first described treatment that will either eliminate B. gibsoni (Asian genotype) infections or suppress the parasitemia below the limit of detection in the majority of treated dogs. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...