Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Changes in blood clotting in dogs with mild babesiosis
By Kuleš, Josipa et al.·Published in Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases·2017·Internal Diseases Clinic·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Alteration of haemostatic parameters in uncomplicated canine babesiosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 25 dogs with babesiosis, a tick-borne disease, showed changes in their blood clotting factors compared to 10 healthy dogs. The affected dogs had lower levels of a protein called antithrombin III, which helps prevent blood clots, and higher levels of thrombin, indicating a tendency for excessive clotting. Fortunately, these changes were mostly reversed with treatment. If your dog is diagnosed with babesiosis, prompt medical care can help restore normal blood clotting.
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Abstract
Babesiosis is a tick-borne zoonotic disease caused by haemoprotozoan parasites. The aim of this study were to assess markers of coagulation pathways in 25 dogs with naturally occurring babesiosis caused by B. canis, compared to 10 healthy controls. Protein C (PC) and antithrombin III (AT III) activity were assessed using a chromogenic substrate test, while levels of thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes, activated protein C (APC) and endothelial protein C receptor were assessed using canine-specific ELISA. AT III activity was decreased as a result of a negative acute phase response, degradation by elastase, reduced availability of glycosaminoglycans, and, most importantly, consumption as a consequence of thrombin formation. Procoagulant state and haemostatic shift towards thrombin formation are also demonstrated by elevated TAT levels. Regarding PC pathway only significant difference was found for APC. Taken together, haemostatic alterations in uncomplicated babesiosis represent a procoagulant state that is mostly reversed during treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28750862/