Relation of antioxidant status at admission and disease severity and outcome in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis canis

Abstract

BackgroundCanine babesiosis is caused by species of the Babesia genus and has become an emerging disease worldwide. To the authors’ knowledge there are no reports in which antioxidants have been analyzed in different presentations of canine babesiosis or in which the prognostic value of antioxidants has been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether oxidative stress could be related to the severity and outcome of canine babesiosis. For this purpose a profile consisting of four antioxidant biomarkers (superoxide dismutase - SOD, glutathione peroxidase - GPx, catalase, total antioxidant status - TAS) and malondialdehyde - MDA as an oxidant biomarker (previously evaluated, here studied for comparative purposes) were evaluated in dogs with canine babesiosis of different clinical severity and outcomes.ResultsThe study was conducted with a sample of 40 dogs suffering from babesiosis (further divided into uncomplicated, one complication and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome - MODS group) and 30 healthy dogs (control group). Additionally, the babesiosis group was divided according to the anaemia into non-anaemic, mildly anaemic, moderately anaemic and severely anaemic dogs. The results of our study showed significantly decreased SOD, catalase and TAS values in diseased dogs compared to controls, while there were no significant differences in GPx between these groups. Dogs that developed MODS showed lower activities of SOD and GPx and higher MDA values compared to dogs with uncomplicated babesiosis as well as with dogs that developed one complication. Superoxide dismutase, catalase and GPx were negatively correlated whereas MDA was positively correlated with the lethal outcome of the disease. Furthermore, this study detected more pronounced decrease in antioxidant biomarkers (SOD, GPx and catalase) in dogs with moderate anaemia compared to those with mild anaemia.ConclusionsThe results of this study showed changes in biomarkers related to the antioxidant status of dogs naturally infected with B. canis canis. These biomarkers could be used as indicators of disease severity and outcome in dogs suffering from babesiosis.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-017-1020-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Hematological and Oxidative Status Parameters in Domestic Dogs Naturally Infested by Rhipicephalus Sp.

“…Recently, Al-Hosary et al (13) reported a significant increase in serum TAC in ewes infected with ticks. These results agree with those reported earlier in sheep (38), and dogs infested by babesiosis (32). Furthermore, Ciftci et al (39) observed that TAC levels decreased in Babesia vogeli infested dogs, but these variations were not found as statistically significant (P>0.05).…”

Canine Babesiosis: Where Do We Stand?

“…Our research confi rmed the presence of oxidative stress in dogs infected with B. canis by examining serum malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation, and relationship between paraoxonase 1 activity and high-density lipoprotein concentration [143,144]. In addition to the above, our latest research confi rmed changes in biomarkers related to the antioxidant status of dogs naturally infected with B. canis [145].…”

Clinical, Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Canine Babesiosis and its Compatible Tick Vector in Naturally Infected Dogs, in Egypt

“…Canine babesiosis may be represented clinically as uncomplicated cases as a result of the hemolytic action of the protozoan or complicated cases due to systemic inflammatory reaction and disturbance in many organs function [37][38][39][40]. Diseased dogs under the present study showed only uncomplicated form of the disease.…”