Haemato-biochemical changes associated with Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs

Abstract

The present study was conducted in dogs presented to the UVH, Kokkalai and TVCC, Mannuthy with clinical signs of inappetence, pyrexia, pale mucous membrane and lethargy suggestive of babesiosis. Forty-five dogs which were primarily screened for B. gibsoni infection through blood smear examination and then confirmed by PCR were included in the study and were subjected to a detailed physical examination, haematology and serum biochemistry analyses. Clinical outcome and variation in haematological and serum biochemical parameters were compared with values of normal dogs. Haematological analysis of affected dogs revealed normocytic normochromic anaemia, mild to moderate thrombocytopenia, inconsistent leucocyte count and differential leucocyte count revealed mild lymphocytosis and granulocytosis. Serum biochemical analysis revealed elevated alkaline phosphatase level.

Keywords

• dogs
• anaemia
• babesia gibsoni
• thrombocytopenia.