title: Evidence of an acute phase response in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis.
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.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. vmatijatko@vip.hr
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Matijatko
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mrljak
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kis
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kucer
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forsek
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zivicnjak
authors.forename: Zeljko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Romić
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Simec
authors.forename: Jose Joaquin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ceron
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001403:Babesia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs; D007095:Imidocarb / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D007095:Imidocarb; C031719:imidocarb dipropionate