05/04/2024
You may have seen in the media a micro-organism, Babesia Gibsoni was found in a dog in Canterbury. The affected dog was euthanised at its owner's request because it was extremely unwell.
All dog owners should ensure their dog is up to date on flea and tick medication.
What is Babesia Gibsoni?
Babesia gibsoni is a parasite that mainly affects dogs. It is widespread around the rest of the world, including Australia. While most infections with B. gibsoni are mild or subclinical, some can be severe. Babesia gibsoni is a tick-borne parasite. The New Zealand cattle tick (Haemophysalis longicornis) is capable of transmitting it between dogs, as are ticks that are exotic to New Zealand, such as the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).
How is it spread?
Along with ticks, the parasite can also be spread through dog bites, blood transfusion, and through the placenta from an infected mother to her pups.
In countries where Babesia gibsoni is widespread, the focus is on preventing infection by treating dogs with tick treatments (similar to flea treatments) and limiting fighting behaviour.
There are several approaches to treatment, although they do not completely eliminate the parasite. This means dogs may remain carriers once infected.
How did B. gibsoni get into New Zealand and is it
widespread?
Biosecurity New Zealand has robust measures in place
to prevent B. gibsoni coming into New Zealand. All
imported dogs must comply with import health standards
(IHS) requirements, including veterinary inspections
and treatments for external parasites, and serological
or molecular testing for Babesia spp. parasites. In the
Canterbury case, the infected dog has not been imported
and there is no clear link to overseas. However, it did
have close contact with other dogs in the Canterbury
region, as well as being exercised in areas where ticks
are known to occur. We do not currently know how this
dog became infected or how widespread B. gibsoni is in
the dog population.
**Information provided by MPI New Zealand**
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/exotic-pests-and-diseases-in-new-zealand/pests-and-diseases-under-response/babesia-gibsoni-a-tick-borne-parasite-affecting-dogs #:~:text=Babesia%20gibsoni%20is%20an%20unwanted,because%20it%20was%20extremely%20unwell.
The red blood cell parasite Babesia gibsoni has been detected in a dog in the Canterbury region. Find out about the parasite, what we're doing about it, and how you can help us.
