Prevalence of different types of arrhythmias in canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis

Abstract

The study assessed cardiac arrhythmias in dogs naturally infected with tick-borne diseases in Palampur. Of 2,755 dogs examined, 465 (16.87%) were haemoparasite-positive and 108 (23.22%) exhibited electrocardiographic abnormalities. Babesia gibsoni was the predominant pathogen, followed by Ehrlichia canis. Major arrhythmias included sinus arrhythmia, tachycardia, low-voltage QRS complexes, QRS notching and ST-segment deviations. Middle-aged male dogs were most affected. The findings highlight significant cardiac involvement in tick-borne infections and underline the importance of routine ECG for early detection and management.