Protozoa, Apicomplexa: Babesia Canis

Front 1

Babesia canis is what type of a disease?

Back 1

Apicomplexa, sporozoan

Front 2

Babesia canis is transmitted by what vector?

Back 2

The tick, brown dog tick

Rhipicephalus spp.

Front 3

Where does Babesia canis live?

Back 3

Inside the Red blood cells

Front 4

What is the only host animal infected by Babesia canis?

Back 4

Dog's

Front 5

What disease's do dogs get as a result of Babesia canis?

Back 5

canine piroplasm

piroplasmosis

Front 6

Infection of Babesia canis is called

Back 6

Babesiosis

Front 7

How is Babesia canis transmitted?

Back 7

Dog is bitten

by a tick caring the Babesia canis in its salivary glands.

Front 8

What is the is the mode of transmission of Babesia canis?

Back 8

The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus spp.) injects Babesia canis into the dogs blood when it feeds on the dog

Front 9

What is the form enters the dogs blood when Babesia canis is transmitted from the brown dog tick?

Back 9

Trophozoites

Front 10

Once in the bood what do Babesia canis trophozoites do? Where in the body does this take place?

Back 10

They reproduce asexually in the red blood cells

Front 11

What does asexual reproduction Babesia canis trophozoites produce?

Back 11

merozoinites

Front 12

What happens when the Babesia canis infected blood cells are filled with merozonites?

Back 12

The infected Red blood cells burst

Front 13

When the Red blood cells burst what happens?

Back 13

more merozoites are released and more RBC's are infected

Front 14

Can a brown dog tick transmit Babesia canis from one infected do to infect another?

Back 14

yes

Front 15

What is the level of infection from Babesia canis? What factor influences this level?

Back 15

Varies from subclinical to mild to a very serious hemolytic crisis (anemia)

Based on the level of infection and the amount of reproduction.

Front 16

True or False

With infection of Babesia canis anemia is almost always seen?

Back 16

Ture

Front 17

What are the most common symptoms of Babesia canis?

Back 17

weakness

hemolytic anemia and hypochromic anemia (bursting of Red Blood cells)

Mucus membrane paleness due to anemia

Fever due to infection

Enlarged lymph nodes and spleen due to infection?

Front 18

What can be the result of Babesia canis infection?

Back 18

Death

Front 19

How is Babesia canis transmitted?

Back 19

Bites from the Brown dog tick

Front 20

How is Babesia canis transmitted directly from one dog to another?

Back 20

Transplacentally (from mother to fetus)

Front 21

What disease is common in puppies that are infected with Babesia canis?

Back 21

Fading puppy disease

Front 22

How is Babesia canis diagnosed?

Back 22

By seeing very obvious trophozoites in red blood cells (look like alien eyes) in a blood smear.

Front 23

What is the treatment for Babesia canis?

Does this treatment eliminate the infection?

Back 23

Antiprtozoal drugs only decrease the symptons

Never really completely eliminates the parasite from the blood.

Front 24

True or False

Disease from Babesia canis can never reoccur during the life of the dog?

Back 24

False because drugs never completely eliminates the parasite from the blood the disease can reoccur at any time in a dogs live

Front 25

How is Babesia canis infection prevented?

Back 25

Because it is spread by the brown dog tick, tick control

There is no vaccine available in the US

Front 26

True or False there is no other species of Babesia for other animals?

Back 26

False there are forms of Babesia for other animals including humans.

Front 27

What should a dog infected with Babesia canis never do?

Back 27

Be a blood donor