Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

Abstract

Incidence of severe anemia due to babesiosis in dogs resulting in death in a short time of illness is on the increase in Punjab, during last few decades due to introduction of exotic breeds like Grey Hound, German shepherd, Doberman, Labrador and others. In the present study the hematological and biochemical changes in blood samples obtained from 4 dogs naturally infected with Babesia were evaluated. The dogs were presented to the Department of Veterinary Clinical Services Complex, GADVASU, Ludhiana from August 2008 to April 2009. The evaluation included Hemoglobin (Hb), Red Blood Cell count (RBC), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), leucocyte counts, platelet counts and reticulocyte counts. The serum biochemistry included Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, total protein, albumin, bilirubin, Aspartate amino Transferase (AST), Alanine amino Transferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), The hematological findings in most of these dogs were normocytic normochromic anemia and thrombocytopenia. The total and differential leukocyte counts were not specific. Biochemical values were within normal ranges but serum biochemistry varied for each dog. This study indicated that Babesia infection in dogs apparently caused anemia and thrombocytopenia, while other clinical values did not change.

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