Veterinary Medicine

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Browsing Veterinary Medicine by Subject "Canine babesiosis"

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    The epidemiology of canine Babesia infections in Zambia
    (Elsevier, 2010-12-10) . Mudenda, Ntombi Basimbi; Nalubamba, King S.; Hankanga, Careen; Masuku, Maxwell
    This study of 1196 dogs over a period of 18 months determined the seasonal infection patterns of canine babesiosis in Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. The work also describes a retrospective study of the prevalence of canine babesiosis in laboratory clinical blood samples submitted to the University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine for routine haematological examination from the year 1994 to 2009. A cross-sectional study was also performed to determine the levels of Babesia in a low-income society (during the dry season and the wet season of the year), where 361 samples were collected from dogs presented for mass rabies vaccination campaigns. Morphology of the Babesia indicated that all were of the large-sized Babesia canis infection. Babesia-positive dogs had significantly higher rectal temperatures than negative ones, and dogs younger than 1 year were more likely to be Babesia positive followed by those between 2 and 5 years old. Seasonal trends indicate two peaks, one in the rainy season (November–March) and another in the cold dry season (June/July). Monthly prevalence rates of Babesia ranged from 0% to 2.4% in natural populations and from 0% to 28.6% in laboratory specimens. This study shows that Zambia has lower Babesia prevalence than reported in other African countries.
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    A Study of Naturally Acquired Canine Babesiosis Caused by Single and Mixed Babesia Species in Zambia: Clinicopathological Findings and Case Management
    (Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2015-10-27) Mudenda, Ntombi Basimbi; Nalubamba, King Shimumbo; Namwila, Mwaka Mwangala; Mulenga, Chilufya Susan; Bwalya, Eugene Chisela; M’kandawire, Ethel; Saasa, Ngonda; Hankanga, Careen; Oparaocha, Elizabeth; Simuunza, Martin
    A retrospective and prospective analysis of clinical records of dogs diagnosed with Babesia infections was carried out for the years 2000 to 2013 from practices in Lusaka, Zambia. Records of 363 dogs with confirmed Babesia infections were analysed using demographic factors including sex, breed, age, and clinical signs in relation to haematological findings and Babesia species. The clinical and laboratory findings observed are described as well as Babesia species identification. The study included 18 breeds and the highest proportion were mongrels (32.2%), males representing 64.5% of the population. The most common presenting problemswere anorexia (65.3%) and lethargy/weakness (65.3%).Themost common clinical signswere fever (87.3%), pallor (52.3%), lymphadenopathy (47.4%), and presence of ticks (44.9%). Anaemia (96.4%) and nucleated erythrocytes (42.2%) were the most common laboratory findings. A mixed infection of Babesia rossi and Babesia gibsoni was present in 59.7% of dogs, whilst 8% and 32.2%had B. rossi and B. gibsoni as a single infection, respectively. Case management mainly involved therapy with tetracyclines and imidocarb and was usually accompanied by clinical improvement. This study highlights, for the first time, the presence of B.gibsoni in natural dog populations in Zambia, where previously only B. rossi was reported.