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

Abstract

Hemolysis and systemic acute inflammation characterize canine babesiosis caused by the intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite Babesia canis. Our hypothesis was that blood redox homeostasis of patients that suffered acute B. canis infection might be disturbed even after treatment with imidocarb-dipropionate and successful clinical recovery. Eight owner dogs with acute B. canis 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.

Reticulocyte Response in Paired Blood Samples of Babesia canis Infected Young and Adult Dogs

“…However, we were unable to prove this effect, most likely due to the complex metabolic regulation of both ApoA I and cholesterol. Nevertheless, the antioxidant role of ApoA I can be considered protective, as oxidative injury at least partially mediates the hemolytic process (12). It is noteworthy that the observed effect could not be linked to the current number of reticulocytes as the changes were consistent across the groups and time periods.…”

“…Secondary immune-mediated hemolysis, erythrophagocytosis, complement activation, and a disturbed balance between oxidants and antioxidants followed by oxidative damage are involved (11,12). It could also be speculated that proinflammatory cytokines lead to ineffective erythropoiesis, as has been shown in Plasmodium spp.…”

“…Clinical recovery of dogs infected with B. canis after being treated with imdocarb-dipropionate is usually very rapid (14), but it has been shown that the oxidant/antioxidant imbalance and erythrocyte damage persist for two weeks after the treatment, even though the anemia has been corrected (12). Few studies have been conducted to investigate the reticulocyte response during the course of the disease and the results are inconclusive (15,16,17,18).…”

Could homocysteine represent a negative acute phase reactant in canine infections-a pilot study?

“…Among them, six dogs showed mild signs of heartworm disease (occasional cough) and others were asymptomatic, what allowed their classification as having the Class 1 of heartworm disease according to the American Heartworm Society classification system (Kosić & Lalošević, 2020). The B. canis group (BAB, N=12; 7 males: 3 Mixed breed dogs, Akita Inu, Malinoa, Golden Retriever, Shar Pei; 5 females: 2 Mixed breed dog, Dachshund, Maltese, Golder Retriever) included the dogs admitted with clinical signs (fever, anorexia, hemoglobinuria) and laboratory findings (thrombocytopenia, mild or moderate anemia, large Babesia organisms on the blood smear) that corresponded to the acute babesiosis (Spariosu et al, 2021). The median age of the BAB group was 4 (1-15) years.…”