title: Clinical, haematological, cytokine and acute phase protein changes during experimental Babesia gibsoni infection of beagle puppies.
abstract: Babesia gibsoni is a haemoprotozoan parasite of emerging global importance. The clinical presentation of babesial infections is diverse and the systemic inflammatory response induced by infection is considered to be a major feature of the pathophysiology of canine babesiosis. An experimental case-controlled longitudinal study was conducted to assess the clinical, haematological, cytokine and acute phase protein changes that occur during experimental B. gibsoni infection of beagle puppies. Infected dogs became transiently pyrexic and anaemic, intermittently neutropenic and transiently, but profoundly, thrombocytopenic, although this had no apparent adverse clinical effect. Experimental B. gibsoni infection also induced an acute phase response, characterised by a marked increase in the concentration of C-reactive protein, which was delayed in onset following infection but preceded the detection of peripheral parasitaemia. Experimental B. gibsoni infection was also associated with marked increases in the concentration of multiple cytokines which were also delayed in onset following infection and occurred subsequent to the detection of peripheral parasitaemia and the acute phase response. This study furthers our understanding of the immune response that occurs during babesial infections and the role that systemic inflammation plays in the pathophysiology of canine babesiosis.
authors: Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.
authors: A L
authors: AL
authors: Brown
authors: University College Dublin Veterinary Hospital, Veterinary Science Centre, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors: R E
authors: RE
authors: Shiel
authors: Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia, 6150, Australia. Electronic address: p.irwin@murdoch.edu.au.
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Irwin
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D008137:Longitudinal Studies
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Acute phase protein; Babesia gibsoni; C-reactive protein; Canine babesiosis; Cytokines; Dog; Systemic inflammation