Babesiosis is a widespread disease that impacts both domestic and wild animals, along with humans. It is caused by Babesia parasites, which are protozoan piroplasms. In dogs, these parasites invade and destroy red blood cells. Among dogs, prevalent Babesia species include the large forms like B. canis, B. vogeli, and B. rossi, as well as the samll forms, more aggressive ones like B. gibsoni, which pose challenges in treatment.
Despite treatment efforts and apparent recovery, dogs may experience recurrent bouts of the disease. Accurate molecular detection and identification of the specific Babesia species are essential for selecting the correct treatment and predicting disease progression in affected dogs.