Renal damage is deemed a common, yet poorly documented, complication in canine babesiosis.Serum urea and creatinine are insensitive and non-specific markers of early renal dysfunction and 2 their measurements are influenced by hemolysis caused by babesiosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to use urinary markers to assess the localization and degree of renal dysfunction in dogs with Babesia rossi infection. Urinary immunoglobulin G (uIgG) and urinary C-reactive protein (uCRP) were measured as markers for glomerular dysfunction, while urinary retinol-binding protein (uRBP) was used as a marker for tubular dysfunction. Eighteen dogs presenting with uncomplicated babesiosis were included and compared with eight clinically healthy dogs. Previously validated commercial ELISA kits were used for the measurement of uIgG, uCRP, and uRBP. Results were related to urinary creatinine concentrations (c). Dogs with babesiosis had significantly higher concentrations of all three measured urinary markers compared to healthy dogs. Except for urinary protein/c ratio (UPC), routine urinary and serum markers for renal function (urine specific gravity (USG), serum urea and creatinine (sCr)) were not significantly different between dogs with babesiosis and healthy dogs.All three urinary markers were positively correlated with each other and with UPC. The data supports the presence of both glomerular and tubular dysfunction in dogs suffering from uncomplicated B. rossi infection. Urinary markers were superior to USG, serum urea and creatinine concentrations for the early detection of renal dysfunction in dogs with babesiosis.

Background Babesiosis in dogs is associated with severe thrombocytopenia; yet infected dogs rarely show clinical signs of hemorrhage. Hypothesis Dogs with uncomplicated babesiosis have normal hemostatic capacity despite severe thrombocytopenia. Animals Nineteen client‐owned dogs with uncomplicated babesiosis; 10 healthy controls. Methods A prospective, cross‐sectional, observational study. Thromboelastography (TEG), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen, D‐dimers, and antithrombin (AT) measured in both groups. Statistical significance set at P < .01. Results Babesiosis group hematocrit and platelet count significantly lower than controls (0.29 versus 0.50 L/L; P < .001 and 20.0 versus 374.5 × 109/L; P < .001, respectively). Except for K, no significant difference in TEG variables between groups. Hemostatic variables for babesiosis group versus controls (mean ± SD); R: 5.9 ± 1.8 versus 4.6 ± 0.9 min (P = .048); K: 2.8 ± 1.1 versus 1.9 ± 0.6 min (P = .003); angle: 55.5 ± 11.7 versus 62.2 ± 4.1 degrees (P = .036); MA: 48.4 ± 9.7 versus 57.2 ± 5.2 mm (P = 0.013); G: 5.1 ± 1.9 versus 6.9 ± 1.5 dyn/cm2 (P = .019); LY30 (median, range): 0 (0–5.7) versus 0.6% (0–6.1) (P = .152); and LY60: 0 (0–8.8) versus 3.1% (0–13.1) (P = .012). AT activity significantly lower (105.2 ± 16.5 versus 127.8 ± 15.4%; P = .001). Fibrinogen concentration significantly higher in babesiosis group (5.7 ± 1.3 versus. 3.0 ± 0.7 g/L; P < .001). Conclusion and Clinical Importance Despite severe thrombocytopenia, dogs with uncomplicated babesiosis did not have clinical signs of hemorrhage and TEG variables were normal, which could indicate a normocoagulable state.

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