Relationship between Changes in Hematological Parameters, Levels of Acute Phase Proteins and Redox Homeostasis during Acute Babesia canis Infection in Dogs

• Published in: Acta veterinaria (Beograd) Vol. 71; no. 2; pp. 158 - 169
• Main Authors: Spariosu, Kristina, Janjić, Filip, Andrić, Jelena Francuski, Radaković, Milena, Beletić, Anđelo, Filipović, Milica Kovačević, Milanović, Svetlana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Belgrade Sciendo 01.06.2021; De Gruyter Poland
• Subjects: acute phase proteins; anemia; antioxidant activity; Antioxidants; Babesia canis; babesiosis; blood serum; catalase; Dogs; Enzymes; erythrocytes; ferroxidase; glutathione peroxidase; haptoglobins; Hematology; hemolysis; Homeostasis; Infections; inflammation; leukocyte count; malondialdehyde; oxidative stress; parasites; Proteins; Protozoa; thiols; thrombocytopenia
• ISSN: 1820-7448; 0567-8315; 1820-7448
• DOI: 10.2478/acve-2021-0014

Hemolysis and systemic acute inflammation characterize canine babesiosis caused by the intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite . Our hypothesis was that blood redox homeostasis of patients that suffered acute infection might be disturbed even after treatment with imidocarb-dipropionate and successful clinical recovery. Eight owner dogs with acute infection were used for this study. We analyzed the complete blood count, acute phase proteins (ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, paraoxonase-1) in the serum, antioxidant enzymes (catalase and glutathione peroxidase) in the erythrocytes, and oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde in erythrocytes and thiol groups in serum) at presentation and 15 days after treatment. Results were evaluated by corresponding statistical tests. At presentation, anemia, low/normal leukocyte count and severe thrombocytopenia occurred together with increased ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin levels within the reference interval, decreased paraoxonase-1 and compromised antioxidant defense in the red blood cells. After treatment and successful clinical recovery, hematological values generally fitted within the reference intervals, acute phase proteins were within the physiological levels in the majority of cases and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes were increased. However, elevated malondialdehyde levels indicated increased oxidative damage of erythrocytes that remained as a deleterious sequel despite a successful clinical recovery of the dogs.