Clinicopathological profile of Babesia canis vogeli infection in dogs

The clinicopathological profile of Babesia canis infection in dogs presented to University Veterinary hospital, Kokkalai was studied. Eight animals with clinical signs of babesiosis like pyrexia, anorexia, amaemia and lethargy and found positive for Babesia piroplasms in blood smear were included in the study. The organism was identified as Babesia canis vogeli by PCR. Haematological analysis showed highly significant alterations in granulocyte count, monocyte count, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), platelet count and significant alterations in total RBC count. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), as per the classification of Matijatko et al. (2010) was noticed in two out of eight animals. This indicate that B. c. vogeli organisms which are considered to be benign in some parts of the world can cause severe complications in a different geographical location.