engleski

White blood cell count and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in uncomplicated and complicated canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis canis

Canine babesiosis caused by B. canis is very common cause of morbidity and mortality of dogs in Croatia. Although white blood cell populations play a crucial role in the SIRS it has been poorly described in canine babesiosis. Therefore the aim of this study is to investigate serial changes in circulating total white blood cells and relationship between circulating neutrophil and lymphocyte counts in uncomplicated and complicated canine babesiosis caused by B. canis canis. The study was performed on two groups of animals naturally infected by B. Canis canis. Group 1 consisted of 30 dogs with uncomplicated babesiosis while group 2 consisted of 30 dogs with various complications. The blood samples for the analyses were collected at the day of the admission, and the second and seventh day after the administration of imidocarb dipropionat. White blood cell count (WBC) was determined on an automatic haematology analyzer (System 9120 ; Serono Baker Diagnostic, Pennsylvania, USA). The ratio of neutrophil to lymphocyte count was acquired from relative percentages of neutrophils and lymphocytes that were manually determined from Romanowsky stained blood smears. The percentage of parasitemia is determined by counting the number of parasitized erythrocytes on one thousand erythrocytes. The differential count was determined manually in Romanovsky-stained blood smears. The WBC counts, relative number of neutrophils and lymphocytes, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and levels of parasitemia were compared between the two groups using the Mann- Whitney U test. White blood cell count was significantly higher seventh day after the antibabesial treatment in the group of complicated babesiosis. The relative number of neutrophiles was significantly higher second and seventh day after the antibabesial treatment in complicated babesiosis and relative number of lymphocytes was significantly lower in the group of complicated babesiosis second day after the antibabesial treatment. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher second day after the treatment in the complicated babesiosis. Parasitemia levels were significantly higher in complicated canine babesiosis. On the basis of these results it may be concluded that there is a significant correlation between the severity of clinical course and increasment in neutrophils and decreasment in lymphocytes percentage. The ratio of neutrophil and lymphocyte counts (in absolute or relative values) is an easily measurable parameter which may express the severity of affliction and serve as a good prognostic marker.

dog ; babesiosis ; parasitemia ; white blood cell count ; neutrophils ; lymphocytes

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