Canine babesiosis or piroplasmosis
transmitted by ticks
Canine babesiosis or piroplasmosis
Canine babesiosis or piroplasmosis is a vector-borne disease caused by a protozoan parasite, Babesia spp. Different species of Babesia can be transmitted by the bite of different ticks such as Dermacentor, Rhipicephalus and Ixodes. The parasite develops in blood cells and can cause anemia. Dogs affected by babesiosis are suffering from a high fever, general weakness, loss of appetite and dark or brown colored-urine (sometimes like coffee). The disease generally occurs very quickly and can be fatal for infected dogs. It is a disease requiring urgent diagnosis and treatment. Some Babesia species such as B. microti can be zoonotic.
Furthermore, with one single bite ticks can transmit several pathogens so it worsens the clinical picture.
Here are the 3 recommendations you can leverage to protect your dog:
• Reducing the dog exposure to tick bites: carefully check the possible presence of ticks on your dog after every walk and remove them with care as soon as possible.
• Use a product that repels and kills ticks with proven efficacy.
• Discuss vaccination, when available, with your veterinarian.
Geographical distribution
The incidence of babesiosis in dogs is evolving. Babesia canis was shown to expand its distribution over new geographical territories such as UK (2017) and Denmark (2019). The ornate dog tick (Dermacentor reticulatus) is responsible for its transmission and is one of the fastest-spreading tick species in Europe. In many countries, canine babesiosis is considered as an emerging infectious disease.
The more you know, the better you can protect your dog. Keep up-to-date to know if you live or plan to travel in a babesiosis risk area by checking the real-time babesiosis world map.
Discover more about tick-borne diseases such as canine babesiosis with Pr Lukasz Adaszek (University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland).
Canine babesiosis or piroplasmosis map
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Learn more about the diseases
Babesiosis
Canine babesiosis is a vector-borne disease caused by Babesia spp. protozoa.
These parasites are mainly transmitted by ticks.
Different species of Babesia can be involved and may require different therapeutic protocols.
The distribution of the species is highly linked to the distribution of their respective tick vectors.
For example, in Europe, B. canis is spread by Dermacentor ticks and recently spreading North.
Lyme borreliosis
Canine Lyme borreliosis is a Vector-Borne Disease caused by Borrelia spp. bacteria transmitted by Ixodes ticks.
Different species of Borrelia can be involved depending on the geographic location.
For example, while only B. burgdorferi sensu stricto was found in North America, many other species can infect dogs in Europe.
Dogs are not a competent reservoir of the pathogen but they represent a useful sentinel reflecting the risk of infection of their owners.
Cutaneous dirofilariosis
Canine cutaneous dirofilariosis is a zoonotic Vector-Borne Disease caused by a nematode parasite named Dirofilaria repens.
This parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes while they bite and canids are the major reservoir.
Humans can also be infected by the vector but it's a benign infection.
Heartworm
Canine heartworm is a life-threatening Vector-Borne Disease caused by a nematode parasite named Dirofilaria immitis.
This parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes while they bite.
Despite considerable efforts for prevention, the disease keeps spreading in different zones of the world.
Leishmaniosis
Canine visceral leishmaniosis is a vector-borne disease caused by a protozoan pathogen named Leishmania infantum.
Although other routes of transmission are possible, this parasite is mainly transmitted by the bites of small phlebotomine sand flies.
It's a severe zoonotic disease spreading across the world.
Anaplasmosis
Canine anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by an intra-cellular bacteria (Anaplasma phagocytophilum or A. platys). Also called tick-fever, this pathogen is transmitted by Ixodes ticks. The first signs can be observed after an incubation of 1 to 2 weeks after the infectious bite.
Ehrlichiosis
Canine ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by an intra-cellular bacteria (Ehrlichia spp.).
This pathogen is usually transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks.
Transmission can occur within the first three hours of the tick infestation.
Clinical signs can be severe and and tick control is the first line of prevention.
Tick-borne encephalitis - TBE
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a vector-borne disease caused by a flavivirus (family Flaviviridae).
This pathogen is transmitted within a few minutes through Ixodes tick bites.
In addition to fever, tick-borne encephalitis infection is characterized by changes in behavior and neurologic signs.
The severe form is often fatal for dogs.
This vector-borne disease is predominantly found in central, eastern and northern Europe.