Babesia canis 5867 Piroplasmosis Babesia canis was formerly called Piroplasma canis, so you may hear infection with this parasite called 'canine piroplasmosis.' B. canis is a one-celled parasite that infects dogs and other wild carnivores like wolves and fox. It can be quite common in certain areas of the southern United States, and is found most often in kennel situations. Not everything about the life cycle of this parasite has been discovered, but here is what we know. The parasite lives in red blood cells where it reproduces by dividing in two. Sometimes 2, 4, or even more parasites can be found in a single red blood cell. The infected cells rupture and release the parasites that can then enter new cells. The parasite is transmitted from animal to animal by ticks. The severity of signs may vary depending on the strain of parasite, the level of infection, and the immune status of the dog. In most cases, anemia occurs. If large numbers of red blood cells rupture at the same time, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, and kidney failure can result. Sometimes skin lesions can be present. Rarely, the infected cells may clog some of the small blood vessels and cause nervous system abnormalities and muscle weakness. Sometimes, the same tick can transmit Babesia canis and other organisms (e.g.; Ehrlichia canis, which causes anemia in dogs) at the same time. This causes the canine piroplasmosis to be more severe. Chronic forms of the disease can occur. Dogs have recurring fevers, lose their appetites and can become emaciated (Pet Education.com: Babesia canis). Baboon Papio cynocephalus 9556 Bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus 447135 Bear Ursus americanus 9643 Birds Passeroidea 175121 Brown Trout Salmo trutta 8032 Buffalo Bison bison 9901 Carnivores Vulpes 9625 Cat Felis catus 9685 Catfishes Siluriformes 7995 Cattle Bos taurus 9913 Chicken Gallus gallus 9031 Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes 9598 chinchillas Chinchillidae 10150 Copper Pheasant Syrmaticus soemmerringii 9067 Deer Cervus elaphus 9860 Deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus 10042 Dog Canis familiaris 9615 Ducks Anas 8835 Ferret Mustela putorius furo 9669 Fish Hyperotreti 117565 Gerbil Gerbillina 10045 Goat Capra hircus 9925 Gray wolf Canis lupus 9612 Guinea pig Cavia porcellus 10141 Hamster Mesocricetus auratus 10036 Horse Equus caballus 9796 Human Homo sapiens 9606 Macaque Macaca fascicularis 9541 Mongolian Gerbil Meriones unguiculatus 10047 Monkey Platyrrhini 9479 Mouse Mus musculus 10090 None None Parrot Psittacidae 9224 Pig Sus scrofa 9823 Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus 9986 Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss 8022 Rat Rattus 10114 Raven Corvus corax 56781 sei whale Balaenoptera borealis 9768 Sheep Ovis aries 9940 Squirrel Spermophilus richardsonii 37591 Tree shrew Tupaiidae 9393 Trouts, salmons & chars Salmoninae 504568 Turkey Meleagris gallopavo 9103 Vole Microtus ochrogaster 79684 Water buffalo Bubalus bubalis 391902 Pirodog and Nobivac Piro Pirodog and Nobivac Piro Merial and Intervet (respectively) VO_0000863 Inactivated or "killed" vaccine Licensed Intramuscular injection (i.m.) In vitro-cultured supernatant antigens, reduce clinical disease(Moreau et al., 1989) Intramuscular injection (i.m.) Moreau et al., 1989 journal Moreau Y, Vidor E, Bissuel G, Dubreuil N 1989 83 Suppl 95-96 Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Pet Education.com: Babesia canis website http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2101&aid=720