Alterations in some blood coagulation parameters in naturally occurring cases of canine babesiosis.
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.
Rafaj
Renata Barić
RB
University of Zagreb, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Heinzelova, 55 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. rrafaj@vef.hr
Matijatko
Vesna
V
Kis
Ivana
I
Kucer
Nada
N
Zivicnjak
Tatjana
T
Lemo
Niksa
N
Zvorc
Zdravko
Z
Brkljacić
Mirna
M
Mrljak
Vladimir
V
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
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D007095:Imidocarb; D000990:Antithrombin III; D013917:Thrombin; C031719:imidocarb dipropionate