<i>Babesia conradae</i>infection in coyote hunting dogs infected with multiple blood‐borne pathogens

Dear, Jonathan D.; Owens, Sean D.; Lindsay, LeAnn L.; Biondo, Alex W.; Chomel, Bruno B; Marcondes, Mary; Sykes, Jane E.

doi:10.1111/jvim.15233

Cited by 24 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Testing for B. canis and B. rossi by means of serology and PCR should be performed in endemic areas. Dogs living in California and Coyote hunting dogs specifically should be screened for B. conradae by means of PCR (no serological test is available) . Although evidence of causation is lacking, Coombs' test‐positive anemia is commonly documented in dogs with heartworm disease, bartonellosis, and leishmaniosis (Supporting Information S5).…”

Section: Global Screening Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis of immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs and cats

Garden

Kidd

Mexas

et al. 2019

Veterinary Internal Medicne

130

196

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Immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in dogs. IMHA also occurs in cats, although less commonly. IMHA is considered secondary when it can be attributed to an underlying disease, and as primary (idiopathic) if no cause is found. Eliminating diseases that cause IMHA may attenuate or stop immune‐mediated erythrocyte destruction, and adverse consequences of long‐term immunosuppressive treatment can be avoided. Infections, cancer, drugs, vaccines, and inflammatory processes may be underlying causes of IMHA. Evidence for these comorbidities has not been systematically evaluated, rendering evidence‐based decisions difficult. We identified and extracted data from studies published in the veterinary literature and developed a novel tool for evaluation of evidence quality, using it to assess study design, diagnostic criteria for IMHA, comorbidities, and causality. Succinct evidence summary statements were written, along with screening recommendations. Statements were refined by conducting 3 iterations of Delphi review with panel and task force members. Commentary was solicited from several professional bodies to maximize clinical applicability before the recommendations were submitted. The resulting document is intended to provide clinical guidelines for diagnosis of, and underlying disease screening for, IMHA in dogs and cats. These should be implemented with consideration of animal, owner, and geographical factors.

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Section: Global Screening Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis of immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs and cats

Garden

Kidd

Mexas

et al. 2019

Veterinary Internal Medicne

130

196

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Kennel owners in the present study suspected that their dogs were becoming infected with B. conradae by ghting coyotes while hunting. A previous report of B. conradae infection in coyote hunting dogs in southern California also documented that infection was associated with a history of aggressive interactions with coyotes (17). A serosurvey performed in California in 1994 showed that 3 of 9 coyotes were seropositive for Babesia gibsoni, suggesting these wild canids may be a reservoir host for Babesia sp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Multiple outbreaks of B. conradae have been previously reported in dogs from southern California since 1991 (5,9,17,18), but infection has not yet been reported outside this core, initial area. A single report of B. gibsoni-like parasite genetically similar to B. conradae was documented in Oklahoma in 2001 (GenBank AF205636) ( 19), but further BLAST analysis by the authors showed 100% alignment with numerous B. gibsoni sequences and signi cant genetic divergence from B. conradae (76.8% homologous to B. conradae, GenBank AF158702).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emergence of Babesia Conradae Infection in Coyote-hunting Greyhounds in Oklahoma, USA

Stayton

Lineberry

Thomas

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: Babesia species are intraerythrocytic Apicomplexan parasites that infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts. These pathogens are typically transmitted either by tick vectors or by direct blood-to-blood contact, and may cause life-threatening clinical disease such as thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and acute renal failure in canine hosts. While Babesia vogeli and Babesia gibsoni infections have both been reported in Oklahoma, reports of B. conradae infections have been limited to California. Methods: Whole blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes from all dogs in four separate kennels in Oklahoma. DNA was extracted from each blood sample and a nested PCR was performed using general Apicomplexan primers for the partial 18S rRNA gene. PCR products were electrophoresed in agarose matrix and appropriately sized amplicons were sequenced. Sequences were compared to reference 18S rRNA sequences available in GenBank, and samples with >98% homology to B. conradae (GenBank MK256976) were considered positive. B. conradae positive dogs were then treated with atovaquone (13.5 mg/kg TID) and azithromycin (10 mg/kg SID) for 10 days and retested at 30 and 60 days post treatment by PCR. Results: Fifteen of 40 dogs tested positive for B. conradae with 98–100% sequence homology to B. conradae from California. All positive cases were coyote-hunting Greyhounds. Treatment of clinically ill dogs with atovaquone and azithromycin resulted in complete clinical recovery in clinically ill dogs and all treated dogs had negative follow-up PCR at 30 and 60 days post treatment. Conclusions: Collectively, this study (i) documents the occurrence of B. conradae in Oklahoma, (ii) highlights this pathogen as a differential to be considered when clinical signs are present, and (iii) supports the use of atovaquone and azithromycin as effective treatment in these cases.

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“…Multiple outbreaks of B. conradae have been previously reported in dogs from southern California since 1991 [ 5 , 8 , 17 , 18 ], but infection has not yet been reported outside this core, initial area. A single report of B. gibsoni -like parasite genetically similar to B. conradae was documented in Oklahoma in 2001 (GenBank: AF205636) [ 19 ], but further BLAST analysis by the authors showed 100% alignment with numerous B. gibsoni sequences and significant genetic divergence from B. conradae (76.8% homologous to B. conradae , GenBank: AF158702).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kennel owners in the present study suspected that their dogs were becoming infected with B. conradae by fighting coyotes while hunting. A previous report of B. conradae infection in coyote-hunting dogs in southern California also documented that infection was associated with a history of aggressive interactions with coyotes [ 17 ]. A serosurvey performed in California in 1994 showed that three of nine coyotes were seropositive for Babesia gibsoni , suggesting these wild canids may be a reservoir host for Babesia sp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emergence of Babesia conradae infection in coyote-hunting Greyhounds in Oklahoma, USA

et al. 2021

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Background Babesia species are intraerythrocytic Apicomplexan parasites that infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts. These pathogens are typically transmitted either by tick vectors or by direct blood-to-blood contact, and may cause life-threatening clinical disease, such as thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia and acute renal failure, in canine hosts. While Babesia vogeli and Babesia gibsoni infections have both been reported in Oklahoma, reports of Babesia conradae infections have been limited to California. Methods Four separate kennels of coyote-hunting dogs were identified in Oklahoma after the kennels had consulted with Oklahoma State University Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (antemortem cases) or the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab (postmortem cases). Upon owner consent, every accessible dog from each of the four kennels was briefly examined for ectoparasites, particularly ticks, and whole blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes. Clinically ill dogs were examined by a practicing veterinarian, and clinical signs included anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, fever and anemia. DNA was extracted from each blood sample, and a nested PCR was performed using general apicomplexan primers for the partial 18S rRNA gene. PCR products were electrophoresed in agarose matrix, and appropriately sized amplicons were sequenced. Sequences were compared to reference 18S rRNA gene sequences available in GenBank, and samples with > 98% homology to B. conradae (GenBank: AF158702) were considered positive. Babesia conradae-positive dogs were then treated with atovaquone (13.5 mg/kg three times per day) and azithromycin (10 mg/kg once daily) for 10 days and retested at 30 and 60 days post-treatment by PCR. Results Of 40 dogs tested, 15 (37.5%) were positive for B. conradae with 98–99% sequence homology to B. conradae from California. All positive cases were coyote-hunting Greyhounds. Ectoparasites were not identified on any of the dogs at the time of blood collection. Treatment of clinically ill dogs with atovaquone and azithromycin resulted in complete clinical recovery in all treated dogs with negative follow-up PCR at 30 and 60 days post-treatment. Conclusions Collectively, this study (i) documents the occurrence of B. conradae in Oklahoma, (ii) highlights this pathogen as a differential to be considered when clinical signs are present, (iii) supports the use of atovaquone and azithromycin as effective treatment in these cases and (iv) demonstrates chronic subclinical carrier dogs serving as potential reservoirs of B. conradae infection to naïve dogs. Graphical abstract

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Babesia conradaeinfection in coyote hunting dogs infected with multiple blood‐borne pathogens

Cited by 24 publications

References 23 publications

ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis of immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs and cats

ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis of immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs and cats

Emergence of Babesia Conradae Infection in Coyote-hunting Greyhounds in Oklahoma, USA

Emergence of Babesia conradae infection in coyote-hunting Greyhounds in Oklahoma, USA

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