In a three year study (sept. 1996- Nov. 1999), 281 dogs of different breeds and age groups were clinically examined in one of The Tabriz Small Animal Clinics, Azarbayejan, Iran. Peripheral thin blood smears were stained with Giemsa and examined for blood protozoa. In 84 dogs clinical signs including fever, inappetence, depression, vomiting, pale mucous membranes, tachypnea and tachycardia were noticed. These signs could be due to acute babesiosis. In only one of the smears from a 3 month-old male puppy of mixed breed, large paired piriform merozoites of babesia canis within erythrocytes were shown. Hematological findings and urine analysis indicated acute hemolytic crisis with severe hemoglobinuria. Postmortem examination and histopathological findings confirmed acute babesiosis. This puppy was heavily infested with Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The rest of the dogs were negative for babesia canis and babesia gibsoni, This appears to be the first report of the acute canine babesiosis from Tabriz-Azarbayejan.
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