ABDOMINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN DOGS NATURALLY INFECTED WITH BABESIOSIS |
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Authors: | EDUARDO FRAGA JOSÉ DANIEL BARREIRO ANA GOICOA LUCIANO ESPINO GEMMA FRAGA ANDRÉS BARREIRO |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain;2. Hospital Universitario Veterinario Rof Codina, 27002, Lugo, Spain;3. Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, EH25 9RG Roslin, UK |
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Abstract: | Canine babesiosis is a tick‐borne disease with a worldwide distribution that can involve multiple organs and result in a wide variety of clinical manifestations. Our goal was to describe the sonographic changes occurring in 72 dogs naturally infected with babesiosis. Seven healthy Beagle dogs were used as a control group. The most common finding in all dogs was splenomegaly with a diffuse heterogenic parenchyma and generally reduced echogenicity. Diffuse hypoechoic hepatomegaly and bilaterally increased cortical echogenicity of the renal parenchyma were found more frequently in severe uncomplicated and complicated babesiosis groups. Mean renal resistive index and pulsatility index (PI) values were 0.66/1.35, 0.73/1.91, and 0.71/1.73 for mild uncomplicated, severe uncomplicated, and complicated babesiosis groups, respectively. A markedly increased PI for complicated and severe uncomplicated groups correlated with anemia and severity of renal damage. Ultrasonography can be an adjunct for diagnosis and monitoring canine babesiosis and its systemic complications. The detection of diffuse heterogeneous splenomegaly can support the diagnosis of Babesia infection, because of the high prevalence of this lesion in these patients. |
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Keywords: | abdominal ultrasonography babesiosis dog |
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