title: Hematologic and bone marrow changes in dogs experimentally infected with Rangelia vitalii.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rangelia vitalii is a tick-transmitted piroplasm that causes both hemolytic and hemorrhagic disease in dogs in Brazil.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of the bone marrow in dogs experimentally infected with R vitalii during the acute stage of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this study, 2 groups of a total of 12 young dogs were used. Group A was composed of healthy dogs (n = 5), and group B consisted of animals infected with R vitalii (n = 7). Blood samples were collected on days 0, 10, 20, and 30 post-inoculation and stored in EDTA tubes for a full hematology profile, including a reticulocyte count. On days 10 and 20, bone marrow samples were collected, stained, and examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In infected dogs anemia was identified on days 10 and 20 post-inoculation (P < .01), and on day 20 reticulocytosis was present. Infected dogs had leukopenia due to neutropenia and eosinopenia, along with lymphocytosis and monocytosis, when compared with control animals. In bone marrow, the myeloid:erythroid ratio was significantly decreased (P < .05) in infected dogs due to increased erythroid precursors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dogs experimentally infected with R vitalii develop regenerative extravascular hemolytic anemia accompanied by erythroid hyperplasia in the bone marrow. During the acute phase of the disease, leukopenia due to neutropenia and eosinopenia suggests intense tissue recruitment of these cells in response to the endothelial damage caused by this parasite.
authors: Department of Small Animals, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria-RS, Brazil. raquelifranca@yahoo.com.br
authors: Raqueli T
authors: RT
authors: França
authors: Aleksandro S
authors: AS
authors: Da Silva
authors: Marcio M
authors: MM
authors: Costa
authors: Francine C
authors: FC
authors: Paim
authors: João F
authors: JF
authors: Soares
authors: Marcelo B
authors: MB
authors: Labruna
authors: Cinthia M
authors: CM
authors: Mazzanti
authors: Sonia T A
authors: ST
authors: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001403:Babesia / Q000145:classification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D004133:Diminazene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D041905:Erythroid Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; C003915:diminazene aceturate; D004133:Diminazene