Thrilling Facts about Babesia gibsoni
Time：2022-07-22 17:04:50Previous |Next
Owning pets is all about responsibility and making sure that they are always safe, especially against the blood parasite Babesia gibsoni.
What is Babesia gibsoni?
When you first read the name, it might appear to you as a nice French old lady who has spent a very graceful life. Well, that’s a satire on our end, Babesia gibsoni is a silent monster in reality.
This blood parasite often attacks mammals and its most common victims are dogs. In dogs, Babesiosis often arises as a result of its severe infection. It has a silent mode of killing the dogs; you won’t know that it’s feeding on your dog’s blood till it will end your dog’s life.
5 Lesser-Known Facts about Babesia gibsoni
1. It mainly impacts Pitbulls and Greyhounds
Though this blood parasite is very monstrous in nature, the impacts vary from host to host. Commonly, its easy victims are Pitbulls and Greyhounds. One reason behind this might be the ease with which it makes its way into their blood. Contrary to the other parasites, it enters the bloodstream through a tick bite and then starts feeding on its host. The bone-chilling fact is that it usually takes up to 48 hours to start feeding on its host right after a dog gets infected from it.
2. Its symptoms usually take up longer than expected to appear
If you are thinking that you can find out about the disease right from the symptoms in your pets, then you are mistaken. Most often, its symptoms take ages to develop, and in gradual stages when they develop, they are very subtle to be noticed. Mostly, you will find the following symptoms in the affected dogs:
●Lethargy
●Dark Red or Orange Urine
●Low-grade fever which tends to get higher later
●Anemia
●Splenomegaly
●Jaundice
3. It can be spread through a dog bite or fluid contraction
The most popular belief is that Babesia gibsoni loves to be there in the ticks and then start its attack. However, let’s burst this bubble. Truth is that it can even be there inside the wounds of the infected dogs.
It can make its way into the body of the other organism right through the pus or blood seeping from the wound. Even during a dogfight, if there’s an infected dog involved, then the healthy dog can easily contract the disease. In newborn dogs, it might be innately present as they have contracted it through the bloodstream of their mother during the phase of pregnancy.
4. Antibody Testing is a secure method for its diagnosis
Babesia gibsoni might be a hard nut to crack, but it’s not impossible to detect at all, especially with active antibody testing. This process requires an efficient testing kit such as Babesia Gibsoni Ab Rapid Test Kit.
The testing kit requires a little input from your side, e.g., the blood serum sample of your pet. It detects the presence by comparing the antibodies against the antigens. Though PCR testing is there, it’s an expensive method as compared to simple Ab testing which can be performed quickly at home.
5. Azithromycin and antiprotozoal treatments are effective against it
Fortunately, Babesia gibsoni is treatable by active medications depending upon the nature of the infection. Most of the time, antibiotics of the azithromycin class and antiprotozoal drugs are given since the affected monster is classified as a protozoan. If the infection is really severe, then your vet will be recommending some blood transfusions to make up for the anemia along with active oxygen support.
Can I prevent Babesia gibsoni in my pets?
This is a question often raised by many pets when they come to know about this blood-sucking monster. There is good news for you, with better hygienic skills and some active strategies, it can be totally eliminated contracting infection in dogs. You have to be careful about the following measures:
1. Always keep your dog on tick-prevention medicine throughout to eliminate the possible risk of tick contraction.
2. Check out for ticks in your dog on a regular basis.
3. Never let your dogs mingle with stray dogs or cats from where they can possibly contract the infestation.
4. Don’t wait too long to bathe your pet dogs because it increases the chances of infestation.
Prevention is always the best strategy to fight against this Babesia gibsoni because as a dog owner, you have to ensure that you give your doggo a perfect and healthy life.
