The Etiology, Incidence, Pathogenesis, Diagnostics, and Treatment of Canine Babesiosis Caused by Babesia gibsoni Infection

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Babesia gibsoni is a parasite that causes the rupture of red blood cells in dogs. Although there is no natural, tick-borne transmission of this disease in Europe, it has become more common in European countries in recent years. Dogfighting breeds are predisposed to disease and they are a potential source of infection. Given the high popularity of these dog breeds in Europe and the participation of many dogs at sports competitions and shows, it is likely that the incidence of the disease in Europe may be higher than expected. The fact that the disease is mostly manifested as asymptomatic infection and that dogs of predisposed breeds are often imported from endemic areas, or they travel due to mating or competitions around the world, also contributes to this hypothesis. ABSTRACT: Babesia gibsoni is one of the small Babesia species and the infection this pathogen causes is usually asymptomatic, which complicates the capture of potential parasite carriers. In endemic areas, especially in Asia, B. gibsoni occurs quite often due to direct transmission by way of a tick vector. Due to the absence of vectors, its occurrence is described only sporadically in Europe; but, it is increasingly occurring in predisposed, so-called fighting breeds, especially the American pit bull terrier. This review describes the etiology, incidence, clinical signs, pathogenesis, diagnostics, and treatment of B. gibsoni infection, with an emphasis on the clinical and laboratory peculiarities of the disease. As the treated dogs do not eliminate the parasite from the body—only reducing parasitemia and improving clinical signs—the treatment of B. gibsoni infection is a challenge in many cases, and its study therefore deserves great attention.