Retrospective study on intercurrent pancreatitis with <i>Babesia gibsoni</i> infection in dogs

Abstract

Babesia rossi infection has been reported to be associated with the high prevalence of pancreatitis in dogs. In this study, we retrospectively investigated whether pancreatitis occurs in B. gibsoni-infected dogs. The clinical manifestations, and hematological and serum biochemical examination results, including canine pancreatic-specific lipase (cPL), in 20 B. gibsoni-infected dogs were analyzed. The cPL concentration exceeded 400 µg/l in only 2 dogs, and they were suspected of having pancreatitis. Although the cPL concentration did not correlate with the degree of anemia or the level of parasitemia, it correlated with the band neutrophil count, platelet count, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level. Our study suggested that the prevalence of pancreatitis is lower among B. gibsoni-infected dogs than B. rossi-infected dogs.

New insights into the etiology, risk factors, and pathogenesis of pancreatitis in dogs: Potential impacts on clinical practice

“…An additional study documented that 28% of dogs with a B. rossi infection had an increased serum cPLI concentration 36 . Other babesia species (eg, B. gibsoni ) have been implicated in the development of AP, albeit at a lower prevalence 35 . Potential mechanisms include hypotension, secondary immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia, hemoconcentration, and alterations in lipid metabolism 34 .…”

“…Diabetes mellitus, 12,24,25ac Hereditary/breed predispositions SPINK 1 mutation, 26,27b Acute: Terrier breeds, miniature poodles, dachshunds, cocker spaniel, Alaskan malamute, laika, miniature schnauzer 12,[28][29][30][31] Chronic: Cavalier King Charles spaniel, collies, boxers 32 Lipid disorders Hypertriglyceridemia 28,29,33 Miscellaneous Babesiosis [34][35][36] Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis 37 Schistosomiasis (Heterobilharzia americana) [38][39][40] Honeybee envenomation 41 Organic acidemias 42 Immunoglobulin G4-related disease 43,44 Increasing age 12 Obesity/overweight status 5,12 Neutered status 5,12 Previous surgery 5 Hepatitis/cholangitis 45 Note: Potential risk factors for AP in dogs. Many of these factors are implied by a temporal association alone and causation has not been established for many of these factors.…”

Advances in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in dogs

“…Pancreatic lipase concentrations are increased in several infectious diseases including parvovirus gastroenteritis, babesiosis, and monocytic ehrlichiosis 103‐106 . Pancreatic lipase concentrations also may be increased in dogs with intervertebral disc disease, foreign bodies and gastric‐dilatation and volvulus 49,107‐109 .…”

“…Pancreatic lipase concentrations are increased in several infectious diseases including parvovirus gastroenteritis, babesiosis, and monocytic ehrlichiosis. 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 Pancreatic lipase concentrations also may be increased in dogs with intervertebral disc disease, foreign bodies and gastric‐dilatation and volvulus. 49 , 107 , 108 , 109 These increases in pancreatic lipase concentration may be secondary effects on the exocrine pancreas associated with the primary disease condition.…”

Understanding lipase assays in the diagnosis of pancreatitis in veterinary medicine

“…Several studies have reported increased serum lipase concentrations or activities in primary extrapancreatic disorders such as renal, gastrointestinal, cardiac, or endocrine diseases; neoplasia; infections; intervertebral disc disease; and portal hypertension or even chronic use of corticosteroids. 2,26,[45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60] Although the exact cause for elevated lipase concentrations or activities is unknown, it could be due to several reasons, such as the presence of concurrent subclinical or clinical pancreatitis in study cohorts, either as a comorbidity or sequalae of the primary disease of interest. An accurate determination of concurrent pancreatitis, especially in the face of similar clinical signs, is challenging due to the inherent nature of the traditional gold standard (ie, histopathology) for a diagnosis of pancreatitis.…”