title: Alterations in some blood coagulation parameters in naturally occurring cases of canine babesiosis.
abstract: Changes in coagulation parameters were studied in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis canis (n = 30), and haemostasis was evaluated and compared to values obtained from healthy dogs (n = 29). To date, there have not been any studies examining the dynamics of thrombin-antithrombin complex formation in cases of canine babesiosis. Coagulation parameters evaluated before (day 0) and on days 1, 2, and 3 after treatment with imidocarb (6 mg/kg inj. s.c.) included the determination of platelet counts, the formation of thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and antithrombin III (AT III) activity. TAT complexes were significantly elevated in animals with babesiosis on days 0 and 2 (mean 49.7 and 87.7 microg/L vs. control, 7.2 microg/L). AT III activity was significantly decreased at all time-points examined. There were no differences in PT. On days 2 and 3 the APTT was significantly shortened in the infected dogs when compared to control animals (means of 21.3 and 19.2 s vs. control, 30.0 s). Our analysis demonstrated that infected dogs had significant thrombocytopenia during the course of the study (mean day 0 - 29 x 10(9) /L, day 1 - 48 x 10(9) /L, day 2 - 47 x 10(9) /L and day 3 - 87 x 10(9) /L, vs. control -259 x 10(9) /L). These data suggest that babesiosis in dogs compromise primary and secondary haemostasis and that induction of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) occurs in canine babesiosis.
authors: University of Zagreb, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Heinzelova, 55 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. rrafaj@vef.hr
authors: Renata Barić
authors: RB
authors: Rafaj
authors: Vesna
authors: V
authors: Matijatko
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Kis
authors: Nada
authors: N
authors: Kucer
authors: Tatjana
authors: T
authors: Zivicnjak
authors: Niksa
authors: N
authors: Lemo
authors: Zdravko
authors: Z
authors: Zvorc
authors: Mirna
authors: M
authors: Brkljacić
authors: Vladimir
authors: V
authors: Mrljak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000378:metabolism; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007095:Imidocarb / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time / Q000662:veterinary; D013917:Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D007095:Imidocarb; D000990:Antithrombin III; D013917:Thrombin; C031719:imidocarb dipropionate