Case report: Babesiosis in captive Chinkara deer (Gazella bennettii) at Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Gazellabennettiialso known asChinkarais an endangered species. Two Chinkara were brought to the University Teaching Hospital of the University College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur. Clinical examination revealed lethargy, progressive weight loss, subnormal body temperature, sunken eyes, congested conjunctiva, rapid abdominal respiration, and anemia. The babesiosis was detected on the basis of intraerythrocytic protozoa in Giemsa stained blood smears. Furthermore, molecular identification was conducted by targeting V4 region of18S rRNA gene.Grossly, lungs were the most severely affected organs observed in the study.The conditionwas successfully treated with imidocarbdipropionate (Imipro®, 12%, Selmore Pharmaceutical, Pakistan) at dose rate of 3 mg/kg intramuscularly once a daily dose on days 1, 3, 6, 9, 15 and 21 along with supportive treatment. Thisstudy is the first one to report babesiosis in captive Chinkara deer.