A Clinical Study of Tick-Borne Diseases in Puppies

One hundred thirty tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineous) infested pups, referred at Nandini Veterinary Hospital with varying symptoms, were investigated for tick borne infections. Diagnosis of tick-borne infections viz. Babesia, Ehrlichia, Hepatozoon, and/or Haemobartonella was made on cytological examination of peripheral blood smears. Out of 130, ninety six (73.84%) pups were found positive for tick-borne infections. Of these 96 pups, 85 (88.54%) revealed tick-borne infection on first examination and 11 (11.46%) on ₂nd examination conducted within 3–4 days. The major infection in pups was Babesia either alone (78.8%) or concurrent (21.2%) with Haemobartonella, Hepatozoon, Ehrlichia, or haemorrhagic gastroenteritis. The clinical cases were presented with wide variety of clinical signs (anorexia; vomiting; subnormal, normal or increased basal body temperature; emaciation/weight loss; diarrhoea (haemorrhagic or nonhaemorrhagic); tachycardia/arrhythmia; dyspnoea/coughing; pale/congested/yellowish mucus membranes; ascites; peresis/ataxia/dullness/depression; increased salivation). Clinical severity varied from mild (4.16%), moderate (32.84%) to severe (62.50%). Treatment regimen comprised of fluid therapy (polymer from degraded gelatin/dextrose saline/dextrose); babesicidals (diminazine aceturate, clindamycin), antirickettsial (doxycycline, oxytetracycline); steroids (prednesolone); haematinics (iron injections and vitamin B-complex); anti-emetics (metoclopramide); H₂–Blocker (ranitidine); metronidazole; motility modifier; vit.k; ascorbic acid; lactobacillus; etophyllin + theophyllin; and cough syrup. Overall case fatality rate was 20.84% (20 out of 96). Pups with a single infection of Babesia had lower fatality (6.57%, 5/76) than that of pups with a mixed infection (75% 15/20).