title: Blood markers of fibrinolysis and endothelial activation in canine babesiosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by hemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. The disease can be clinically classified into uncomplicated and complicated forms. The aim of this study was to assess the level of endothelial activation and alterations in the fibrinolytic pathway during canine babesiosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood samples were collected on the day of admission and on the 6th day after treatment with imidocarb propionate, from 30 dogs of various breeds and of both sexes with naturally occurring babesiosis caused by B. canis. In this prospective study, plasminogen activity was assessed using a chromogenic assay, and concentrations of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB-1), intercellular adhesive molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular adhesive molecule-1 (VCAM-1), soluble urokinase receptor of plasminogen activator (suPAR), thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), soluble thrombomodulin (TM) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were determined using a canine specific ELISA. Concentrations of TM, HMGB-1, VCAM-1 and suPAR were increased in dogs with babesiosis at admission compared to healthy dogs. After treatment, concentrations of TM were lower in infected dogs compared to healthy dogs. Dogs with babesiosis also had increased concentrations of TM, ICAM-1 and HMGB-1 and decreased plasminogen and PAI-1 at presentation compared to day 6 after treatment. Dogs with complicated babesiosis had higher concentrations of TM, HMGB1 and TAFI at admission compared to the 6th day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biomarkers of endothelial activation and fibrinolysis were altered in dogs with babesiosis. Further studies into their usefulness as biomarkers of disease severity or prognosis is warranted.
authors.affiliation: ERA Chair team VetMedZg, Internal Diseases Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Josipa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuleš
authors.affiliation: Internal Diseases Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gotić
authors.affiliation: Internal Diseases Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia. vmrljak@vef.hr.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mrljak
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barić Rafaj
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Biomarkers; Hemostasis; Vascular Endothelium