The Travelling Pet Flashcards
What are the general features of babesia spp?
Apicomplexan protozoan parasite
Similar to malaria
Intra-erythrocytic
Transmitted by ticks
Most are host specific
What babesia spp should you know?
Bovine babesiosis
Canine babesiosis- babesia canis
Feline babesiosis- babesia felis, south africa
Equine piroplasmosis- therileria equi, babesia caballi
What species of tick carry caninine babesiosis?
Dermacentor reticulatus- sand dune systems and costal pastures of west waes and south west England
Rhipicephalus sanguineus- tropical/subtropical tick, can survive in temperate climates in domestic areas
What are the three stages of babesia spp and describe their morphology
Sporozoite- single nucleus, invades erythrocyte
Trophozoite
Merozoite- apical complex, divergent pairs, pair shaped, both with nucleus
Describe the life cycle of babesia spp
Merozoites divide by asexual binary fission in red blood cells
Tick ingests the infected RBC
Merozoites transform into gamates and fuse to form zygotes in the tick ovary
Migrate to the tick salviary gland
Sporozoites released into tick saliva
Tick feeds on dog and sporozoites enter RBC and divide (merogony)
What are the clinical signs of canine babesiosis?
How is it diagnosed and treated?
Clinical signs- acute, often fatal in naive dogs, anaemia arises from haemolysis, pale mucus membranes, depression, splenomegaly, complicated babesiosis
Diagnosis- history of recent travel, clinical signs, giemsa stained blood smear to idenfity merozoites
Treatment- Imidocard
How can a pet be protected from travelliling in Europe where babesia canis is highly prevalent?
Tick control:
Fipronil
Deltamethrin collar
Furalaner
Imidacloprid and flumethrin collar
Prevent tick from feeding
Important for other tick-borne diseases
What kind of parasite is leishmania spp?
How is it transmitted?
What species is in Europe and affects dogs?
Kinetoplastid parasite (flagellated protozoa)- kinetoplast subcellular structure, flagellum
Transmitted by sandflied- Phlebotomus spp- very small, hairy brownish coloured flied found in areas with dense vegetation
Many species- Canine- Leishmani infantum
How can leishmania present in humans?
Significant human infectious disease
Cutaneous- skin sores
Visceral leishmaniasis- affects internal organs- spleen, liver, bone marrow
Fatal if untreated
Where is canine leishmaniasis common in Europe?
Common in dogs in Southern France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece
What are the stages of leishania spp and where are they found?
Amatigote- mammalian stage, multiplies in cytoplasm of macrophages
Promastigote- insect stage, contains the flagellum
Describe the leishmania life cycle
Amastigotes taken up as sand fly feeds
In sand fly midgut the amastigotes transform into the promastigote stage- stage containing flagellum- temp dependent
Infection of new host when sand fly feeds
Promastigotes are internalised by macrophages and loose flagellum and transform into amastigote stage
What are the clinical signs of canine leishmaniasis?
Range from asymptomatic to severe- long incubation 3-18 months
Alopecia
Emaciation
Eczema
Lesions around the edges of ears
Peri-orbital alopecia
Sores around muco-cutaneous junctions are common
Chronic phase of diseases- excessive nail growth
How is canine leishmaniasis diagnosed and treated?
Diagnosis- history of recent travel, clinical signs, blood tests/serology, PCR
Treatment- does not eliminate (clinical relapse), allopurinol (lifelong), Miltefosine, Meglumine antimoniate, Domperidone
Two vaccines available
Canileish- given to dogs from 6mo, 3 injections 3 weeks apart
Letifend- 6mo, single under skin
Booster every year- reduced symptoms
