INCIDENCE, SYMPTOMATOLOGY AND TREATMENT O F CANINE BABESIOSIS

Babesiosis was diagnosed in 93 dog patients at the Department of Inter nal Medicine of Veterinary University between 1990 and 1994. Of them 5 2 dogs were treated as ambulant patients while 41 needed hospital atte ndance. After a brief summary of the pathogenesis of the diseases (GRE ENE, 1990, Fig. 1), it has been pointed out that although most of the cases were observed in April, as well as in September and October (Fig . 2), the disease occurred also during the winter months under certain circumstances. Based on the distribution of dogs treated at the depar tment, the disease occurs along the bank of standing waters and rivers , in areas infected with the intermediary host tick (Dermacentor retic ulatus) but also outside the areas known earlier as an endemic area (F ig. 3). Peracute, acute and subacute types were distinguished in the c ourse of the disease. The diagnosis is based on the characteristic cli nical features (Figs 4, 5, and 6) and demonstration of babesias (Figs 7 and 8). Besides the detailed physical examination, examination of bl ood (qualitative and quantitative blood counts, different blood parame ters) and urine is carried out (Figs 9 and 10). An important part of t he laboratory tests were the determination of blood urea and creatinin e levels, as well as the checking of the acid-base equilibrium of bloo d (Tables 1 and 2). The treatment started withe a single or repeated a pplications of Imizol inj., a preparation containing imidocarb. Beside s the early specific treatment, an important part of the therapy was t he continuous intensive medical attendance: prevention of the danger a nd consequences of haemoglobin- and bilirubin-nephrosis (uraemia), inc rease of diuresis by repeated application of infusions and diuretics. As a result of such an intensive therapy, 47 and 35 patients recovered of the ambulant and hospitalized patients, respectively.