Faculty of Veterinary Science
Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
Through her research a masters student, Dr Ninnette Keller, found the hitherto unknown prevalence of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) to be 20,5% in cases of canine babesiosis that were sick enough to be admitted. This finding allows hypoglycaemia to replace cerebral babesiosis as the major differential diagnosis for canine babesiosis cases presenting with neurological signs, such as profound weakness or coma. It carries a much more favourable prognosis than cerebral babesiosis and cases invariably respond to an intravenous injection of glucose. This novel finding should change the lives of many pets, who in the past would have been euthanased, having been erroneously regarded as suffering from the intractable cerebral form of the disease.
Contact person: Dr JP Schoeman.
|
