CONTROL STRATEGIES AND THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF BABESIOSIS IN DOGS

Abstract

Canine babesiosis is a hemoparasitic disease with a worldwide distribution, predominantly transmitted by the bite of ixodid ticks. Its increasing incidence and clinical complexity—ranging from subclinical infections to fatal and complicated cases—justify the continuous search for effective control strategies and therapeutic interventions. This study is characterized as a narrative literature review, conducted in the PubMed database, with the aim of synthesizing the most recent scientific evidence on the management of the disease. The literature analysis reveals that the control of babesiosis requires an integrated approach that combines accurate diagnosis—where molecular techniques such as real-time polymerase chain reaction prove superior to microscopy in cases of low parasitemia—and rigorous control of risk factors (e.g., hot and humid climate, seasonality, unneutered dogs). Preventive strategies, such as the regular use of acaricides, are fundamental, with the combination of afoxolaner and milbemycin being cited as demonstrating high preventive efficacy, while gonadectomy has been associated with a reduction in the incidence and severity of the disease. In the therapeutic field, imidocarb dipropionate and diminazene aceturate remain the traditional interventions that reduce parasitemia and promote clinical remission, although they rarely achieve complete elimination of the parasite, resulting in chronic carriers. In parallel, emerging therapies, such as the use of tafenoquine, which promoted a rapid reduction in parasitemia, and N-acetylcysteine, as adjuvant therapy to improve hematological parameters, show promising results and reinforce the need for further research aimed at improving clinical management to mitigate morbidity and mortality in canines.