Clinical and Clinicopathological Features of 108 Dogs Infected with Babesia gibsoni in Hong Kong

Abstract

Babesia gibsoni is an intra-erythrocytic protozoan responsible for the most common arthropod-borne infection affecting dogs in Hong Kong. This study describes clinical findings and determines clinicopathological alterations in hematology, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, and coagulation profile of infected dogs. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 108 dogs presented to an emergency and specialty hospital in Hong Kong from 2012 to 2022. Each dog had a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnosis and a complete medical record including documented results of a complete blood count (CBC) and a serum biochemistry profile. Moderate to marked thrombocytopenia and anemia were found in the majority of cases. Regenerative anemia with varying degrees of alterations of red blood cell indices, monocytosis, eosinopenia, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, hyperglobulinemia, elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), proteinuria, and bilirubinuria were the major findings in infected dogs. The findings of this study enhance our understanding on when to consider B. gibsoni as a differential diagnosis to initiate molecular investigation and subsequent treatment specific to the infection.