Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Acute phase response in dogs infected with Babesia canis
By Matijatko, Vesna et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2007·Clinic for Internal Diseases·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evidence of an acute phase response in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs infected with Babesia canis, a parasite that can cause serious illness, showed signs of illness like changes in blood cell counts and inflammation. They were treated with a medication called imidocarb dipropionate, and their health was monitored over several days. After treatment, levels of certain proteins and blood cells improved significantly, indicating a positive response to the medication. By the eighth day, most of the dogs were back to normal levels, showing that the treatment was effective in managing the infection.
People also search for: dog Babesia canis treatment · dog blood test results · dog inflammation treatment
Abstract
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell count (WBC), haematocrit (HCT) and platelet number (PLT) were quantified and compared with the acute phase proteins (APPs) in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis and healthy dogs. Both groups were treated with imidocarb dipropionate on the day of admission and both groups were monitored for all parameters on the admission day and on the first, second, third, fourth and seventh days in order to determine the presence of an acute phase reaction, to assess the diagnostic value of these markers in uncomplicated canine babesiosis and to evaluate the use of APPs in treatment monitoring. It was demonstrated that an acute phase response occurs in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis, with significant increases in the concentration of major acute phase proteins. The serum concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) decreased daily after treatment and approached reference range values by the eighth day. PLT and haematocrit (HCT) increased daily after treatment and approached reference range values by the fourth day. WBC and haptoglobin increased after treatment and then decreased from the third and fourth days, respectively, to the eighth day. The diagnostic sensitivity of CRP, SAA and PLT was significantly higher compared to haptoglobin, ESR, HCT and the WBC count. CRP and SAA were of clinical use in monitoring the response to antibabesial treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17116368/