A second Christchurch canine has been discovered with a parasite, that till not too long ago, had by no means been detected in New Zealand.
The Ministry for Primary Industries introduced final week {that a} Staffordshire Bull Terrier needed to be put down, resulting from sickness brought on by babesia gibsoni.
A small variety of dogs that had been shut contacts of the animal had been examined, as a part of the MPI’s investigation.
Chief veterinary officer Dr Mary van Andel instructed 1News at present that led to the brand new an infection being detected.
“This new case is a canine recognized to have been concerned in a tussle with the primary canine confirmed with the illness,” she mentioned.
“This newly found canine has proven no apparent indicators of sickness.”
Test outcomes are due again within the coming days for playmates of the primary New Zealand canine to be discovered with an unique parasite that may be lethal.
The blood parasite’s widespread abroad but it surely was nonetheless unclear the way it got here to be in New Zealand.
It mostly affected bull breeds and greyhounds and was often unfold through ticks or canine bites.
MPI confirmed the extra not too long ago recognized canine was a border collie cross, and mentioned, “it’s doubtless that the parasite will all the time stay within the canine’s system”.
The house owners have been given instructions to handle any threat of additional unfold.
The ministry has additionally placed authorized controls round managing the dangers, together with being up-to-date date with tick remedies and stopping blood being drawn throughout boisterous play or different interactions with different dogs.
But van Andel mentioned: “All different canine house owners, in Christchurch and nationally, shouldn’t be involved and might proceed to take their dogs to daycare and train and socialise them as regular.
“Biosecurity New Zealand will proceed to hint contacts of each affected dogs to grasp how the parasite entered New Zealand and to substantiate whether or not that is remoted to the small variety of animals in direct contact with each other.”
MPI re-emphasised most dogs with the illness would solely expertise delicate signs, if any, but it surely may very well be extreme in some instances, as with the primary Christchurch canine.
If pet house owners had been nervous about their canine’s well being, they had been suggested to contact their vet.
