Impact of levels of parasitemia and antibodies, acute-phase proteins, as well as stays abroad on hematological and biochemical parameters in 342 dogs with acute Babesia canis infection

About 60% of dogs with acute B. canis infection had no history of stays abroad, thus representing autochthonous infections. Most dogs without stays abroad were immunologically naive, in contrast to most imported dogs showing positive and high antibody levels. Dogs with high antibody levels showed less severe clinicopathological alterations and lower levels of parasitemia in the peripheral blood, explained by protective antibody activity.