Atovaquone as an Alternative Therapeutic Management for Babesiosis in Canine

Abstract

Canine Babesiosis is a significant tick-borne haemoprotozoan infection caused by the intra-erythrocytic parasite Babesia species. It commonly presents with fever, haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, and splenomegaly. A six-month-old female German shepherd was brought to the Veterinary Clinical Complex, Meerut, with anorexia, tachypnoea, and tick infestation. Clinical examination revealed weakness, depression, and a fever of 105.2°F. Blood tests showed anaemia, hemoglobinemia, and thrombocytopenia, while a thin blood smear confirmed Babesia infection. Initial treatment included Doxycycline (10 mg/kg orally every 24 hours) with supportive therapy for seven days. While the dog showed slight improvement, Babesia species persisted in the blood smear. Consequently, the treatment was revised to Azithromycin (10 mg/kg orally every 24 hours) and Atovaquone (13.3 mg/kg orally every 8 hours) for ten days. This led to full recovery, with the dog regaining appetite, resolving fever, and showing no parasitaemia on follow-up blood tests.