Diagnosis, treatment and associated complications in a Labrador Retriever due to canine babesiosis

A six-year-old black Labrador Retriever dog with a history of pyrexia (41°C), anorexia and dysuria for two days and treated by a field veterinarian, was presented to Veterinary Clinical Complex. Clinical examination revealed icteric changes in the visible mucous membrane with lymphadenomegaly. Splenomegaly noticed during abdominal palpation was later confirmed by radiography. Peripheral blood smear, haematology, and serum biochemical analysis, as well as PCR analysis for babesiosis were carried out in blood samples. Urine samples were also collected for molecular detection of leptospiral organisms. PCR was found to be positive for Babesia gibsoni and negative for Leptospira spp. The associated secondary complications, like acute renal failure, valvular heart disease, hepatitis and splenitis, were diagnosed by ultrasound examination and were also correlated with the findings of electrocardiography, cardiac troponin (cTnI) values, and blood profile parameters. The probable reasons for treatment failure of triple drug therapy with clindamycin, metronidazole and doxycycline for 15 days, with other supplementary therapy used in this study are discussed.