{"url":"https://www.zooplus.co.uk/magazine/dog/dog-health-and-care/canine-malaria-babesiosis","title":"Canine Malaria (Babesiosis)","mag_id":364385,"is_single":true,"cat_name":"Dog","sub_cat_id":143,"sub_cat_name":"Dog Health and Care","cat_id":3410}
As spring arrives, both humans and dogs are drawn to the forest. However, lurking among the trees are ticks that can transmit canine malaria.
Once considered among Mediterranean diseases, canine malaria, or babesiosis, is now on the rise in Germany due to the increasing spread of the parasites responsible for the infection in dogs. Left untreated, canine malaria can be fatal. This article provides information on symptoms, treatment, prospects for recovery, and prophylaxis.
Canine malaria is a severe infectious disease in dogs caused by single-celled parasites called Babesia, transmitted by ticks. The disease’s name refers to the malaria-like symptoms it produces.
The Danger of Babesiosis for Dogs
The overall health of dogs afflicted with babesiosis deteriorates progressively, characterised by high fever and severe anaemia, as the parasites destroy red blood cells.
Though there are treatments available, they are not always fully effective. Consequently, dogs infected with Babesia can sometimes die.
Is Babesiosis Dangerous to Humans?
While Babesia canis, the parasite causing canine malaria, does not pose a threat to humans, people can still become infected by other Babesia species also transmissible through tick bites.
Where is Canine Malaria Found?
The parasite dangerous to dogs is virtually worldwide. While the pathogens were initially found in warmer regions like Africa or the Mediterranean, their spread now includes Central Europe and the Balkans.
Is Canine Malaria Found in Germany?
Recent years have seen increasing cases of babesiosis in Germany. For instance, veterinary clinics and veterinarians reported a surge in canine malaria cases in Brandenburg in spring 2023. With affected areas expanding, caution is advised for dog owners in every federal state.
The forest tick is one of the tick species that can transmit babesiosis to dogs.
Symptoms: How Do I Recognise Canine Malaria?
The symptoms your dog may exhibit as a result of the parasites-induced anaemia vary with the strain of the pathogen, leading to either an acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term) course of the disease. However, the acute form is most common.
Typically, symptoms appear within three weeks, with signs of infection sometimes presenting within days following a tick bite.
Early Typical Signs
The most common symptoms associated with canine malaria include:
Bloody urine or skin haemorrhages
Fever (over 40°C), lethargy, and difficulty breathing
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Fluid retention (oedema)
Yellowing of mucus membranes (jaundice)
Advanced Stage
If the disease spreads to the central nervous system, movement disorders and paralysis may develop alongside initial symptoms. Your dog can suffer from epileptic seizures or kidney failure, which often results in death.
When Should I Visit the Vet?
If your dog displays any of the mentioned signs of illness, you should visit your vet immediately. Early detection can greatly improve the chances of helping your dog.
Diagnosis: How is Babesiosis in Dogs Diagnosed?
Answer the vet’s questions in detail during a thorough examination of your dog. For example, it’s essential to confirm if your dog has recently had a tick bite.
Have you been on holiday recently, possibly to a risk area? Such information aids your vet in making a diagnosis. In addition to your report, the vet will carry out various tests.
Blood Smear
Typically, the vet confirms suspicion of canine malaria with a blood test, examining blood extracted from the ear or tail tip under a microscope. The Babesia appear as pear-shaped structures inside the red blood cells.
However, the test might yield a negative result even when an infection is present. Further tests are usually necessary to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
Molecular Biology
Following inconclusive blood smear results, your vet may send another blood sample to a laboratory for a specific PCR test to confirm an acute infection.
Therapy: How is Canine Malaria Treated?
For the treatment of canine malaria, a medication containing the active substance Imidocarb is available in Europe. Vets administer it roughly twice at two-week intervals. Antibiotics containing Doxycycline can combat certain Babesia species.
Yet, medication alone often doesn’t suffice to alleviate symptoms. Hence, supportive measures like infusions or blood transfusions are typically required.
The Problem with Treating Canine Malaria
Despite meticulous efforts, treatments occasionally fail to heal. This is why protecting your dog from infection through preventive measures, like regular tick checks, is critical.
Causes: What Triggers Babesiosis in Dogs?
Babesiosis is caused by the Babesia parasites. The disease is common in warm climates. However, due to global warming, babesiosis has seen increasing prevalence for years and has now reached Germany.
Transmission: Which Ticks Spread Canine Malaria?
The transmission involves the marsh tick (Dermacentor reticulatus) and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Here’s how it happens:
A tick ingests the parasites while feeding on infected blood.
When it bites another dog, the parasites are transmitted through the tick’s saliva into the dog’s bloodstream.
There, they invade the red blood cells, multiplying within them.
As parasites increase, the cells lack the space to accommodate them, bursting and thus triggering canine malaria in dogs.
Note: Transmission through blood transfusions is theoretically possible, but control measures today make this relatively uncommon.
Prognosis: Can Canine Malaria Be Cured?
With timely recognition and treatment of babesiosis, healing is possible for affected dogs. However, some may carry Babesia for life, occasionally causing severe relapses.
It’s crucial to keep a watchful eye on your dog’s health and attend all routine vet visits diligently.
In this microscope image of red blood cells, two Babesia parasites can be seen as purple structures.
Prevention: How to Protect Against Canine Malaria?
Protect your dog from ticks all year to prevent babesiosis infection.
Note: Despite the longstanding notion that ticks are only active in warmer months, babesiosis cases have also increased during cold winters, as some tick species can survive temperatures as low as four degrees Celsius.
Avoiding Tick Bites – Here’s How
Use specialized tick repellents throughout the year to shield your dog from ticks, and check for parasites after every walk.
If a tick has already bitten, our tick guide provides instructions for removing the unwanted visitor.
Note: Ticks also transmit other pathogens, such as anaplasmosis, providing another reason to protect your dog from these parasites.
Can Dogs Be Vaccinated Against Canine Malaria?
Babesiosis vaccination is not one of the routine dog vaccinations, but it is possible to vaccinate dogs against canine malaria. Available vaccines might not prevent infection and aren’t effective against all species, but they can lessen the severity of the disease.
If you’re planning a holiday with your dog in southern regions or live in Brandenburg or other risk areas, consider vaccination. Your veterinarian will happily advise you on this.
This article from zooplus Magazine is purely informative. If your pet is experiencing discomfort, contact your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
Here are some purchase proposals curated by the zooplus editorial team
The products featured have been carefully selected by our editorial staff and are available at the zooplus online pet shop. The selection does not constitute advertising for the mentioned brands.
Franziska G., Veterinarian
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene.
Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future.
Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
Although the heat period is an entirely natural process for female dogs, irritation at stains on the new carpet, fear of an unwanted pregnancy or their pet's strange behaviour can cause many dog owners to worry. Find out here everything you need to know about your female dog's heat period and how you can both overcome this without any stress.
16 February 2024 |Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted by sandflies and can often prove fatal for dogs. Find out how you can protect your dog and how to recognise and treat the disease should it emerge.
Neutering has traditionally been a standard veterinary practice, but is it universally recommended? What distinguishes neutering from sterilisation and what expenses should a dog owner anticipate? Here, you can discover all the essential information concerning the advantages and disadvantages of neutering your dog.
