MANAGEMENT OF DERMATOLOGICAL LESIONS ASSOCIATED WITH BABESIA GIBSONI IN DOGS

Three dogs were presented to the clinic with the history of recurrent dermatological abnormalities, fever, dyspepsia, lethargy and progressive weight loss. Dermatological findings observed were dry exfoliations, alopecia, hemorrhagic spots over abdomen and groin regions, inter digital ulcerative lesions, hyperkeratosis of digital pads, brittleness of nails and pododermatitis. Microscopic examination of the stained peripheral blood smears revealed the Babesia gibsoni organisms in the erythrocytes. Dogs showed anaemia, leucopaenia, thrombocytopenia, hyper globulinemia and low albumin levels. Uneventful recovery was recorded after treatment with intra muscular administration of two doses of diminazene aceturate @ 7.0 mg/kg body weight and oral administration of clindamycin @ 25 mg/kg body weight twice in a day. Improvement in the clinical findings was noticed by the three days of therapy and complete dermatological clinical cure was obtained after two months of therapy