Mirna Brkljačić

Septic shock in canine babesiosis.

The records of all canine patients (86) that had been diagnosed with babesiosis and that were admitted to the Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagreb from January 2007 to December 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. All dogs that had been diagnosed with canine babesiosis and that had systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) followed by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and refractory hypotension, were included in this study. Of 86 patients diagnosed with canine babesiosis that were admitted during the study period, 10 had evidence of septic shock and were included in this study. Seven of the 10 dogs had a level of parasitaemia above 1%, with the highest level being 20.2%, seven of the 10 dogs were anaemic and three of the 10 dogs were leucopoenic. Thrombocytopenia was present in nine dogs. Hypoglycaemia was noted in two dogs, and bilirubinaemia in nine dogs. Four patients had involvement of two organs, five had involvement of three organs, and one had involvement of four organs. The organ that was most frequently involved was the kidney (nine cases). Central nervous system dysfunction was the rarest complication noted (one case). The mortality rate in non-septic shock canine babesiosis was 2.6%. All dogs that developed septic shock died between the first and the fourth day after admission. The 100% mortality rate that is reported here reflects the fact that in cases in which progression of the inflammatory response leads to the development of septic shock, an unfavourable outcome should be expected.

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.

MOLECULAR EVIDENCE OF NATURAL INFECTION WITH BABESIA CANIS CANIS IN CROATIA

The aim of the present study was to detect and characterise the species and subspecies of Babesia spp. that cause canine babesiosis in Croatia. Twenty-eight dogs with typical signs of babesiosis (lethargy, anorexia, fever, dark urine and thrombocytopenia) were included in this study. Their blood smears showed the presence of Babesia canis . The results showed the detection of one subspecies, namely Babesia canis canis using PCR, and subsequent sequence analysis demonstrated portions of the nss rRNA gene in 27 out of 28 samples. Sequence analysis of the isolates showed 100% identity in 11 samples, 99.7% identity (one nucleotide difference) in 11 samples and 99.4% identity (two nucleotides difference) in 5 samples with B. canis canis . The results of this study confirm the presence of B. canis canis in infected dogs in Croatia and demonstrate a slightly new genetic variant of Babesia subspecies.

Serum concentrations of eicosanoids and lipids in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis

Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease with world-wide significance caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Babesia. The eicosanoids, as inflammatory mediators, are involved in the regulation of the immune response and inflammatory reaction. Metabolism of lipids is of great importance in babesiosis. In this study it was aimed to investigate the dynamics of serum concentration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thromboxane B2 (TxB2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), triglycerides, total cholesterol (Chol), HDL- and LDL-cholesterol in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis and healthy dogs. Both groups were measured for all parameters on the admission day and on the first, second and seventh day of the disease. Dogs that were included in this study had systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). It was demonstrated that the level of LTB4, PGE2, TxB2 in dogs naturally infected with B. canis significantly changed during the disease. The level of LTB4 was significantly higher during the study, while the concentration of PGE2 was significantly higher second, third and seventh day of disease in relation with healthy dogs. The level of TxB2 was significantly lower at the beginning of the disease, but after seven days concentration was significantly higher. Both group of patients with SIRS and MODS had significantly higher level of LTB4. Substained high concentrations of PGE2 were observed in dogs with MODS after therapy but not in dogs with SIRS, and LTB4 followed a similar tendency. On the other hand, increases in TxB2 were only significant in dogs with SIRS. The lipid profile in naturally infected dogs with B. canis infection was significantly changed. Further studies are needed to assess the prognostic values of lipid mediators in dogs with B. canis infection, and the ability of these markers to predict the progress of SIRS and MODS.

Co-oximetry in clinically healthy dogs and effects of time of post sampling on measurements.

OBJECTIVES Co-oximetry is a complex and valuable laboratory method that measures haemoglobin species and oxygenation status by multi-wavelength spectrophotometry. The purpose of this study was to establish reference intervals for clinically healthy dogs and to determine the effect of time of analyses and sex of animals on the accuracy of results. METHODS Blood was collected from 27 healthy adult dogs of various breeds and sex. Co-oximetry was performed on a CCX co-oximeter that measures eight haemoglobin and oxygen transport related parameters: carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb), deoxyhaemoglobin (HHb), oxyhaemoglobin (O(2)Hb), methaemoglobin (MetHb), total haemoglobin (tHb), oxygen saturation (SO(2)%), oxygen content (O(2)Ct) and oxygen capacity (O(2)Cap). RESULTS Results obtained after 2 and 4 hours were not significantly different from those obtained immediately after sampling. But after 48 hours, the results for total haemoglobin, oxygen saturation, oxyhaemoglobin, oxygen content and oxygen capacity were significantly lower, and carboxyhaemoglobin and deoxyhaemoglobin values were significantly higher than determination immediately after sampling. Gender had no significant impact on co-oximetry values. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Co-oximetry offers several advantages compared with other methods, including ease of use, increased accuracy and greater differentiation among haemoglobin species.

Glomerular and tubular kidney damage markers in canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis

Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the haemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. The aim of this study was to assess renal dysfunction in dogs with babesiosis caused by B. canis, using serum and urinary markers for both glomerular and tubular dysfunction. Assays previously not validated for use in canine samples were validated and the potential interference of haemoglobin, lipids and bilirubin with these analyses was additionally considered. In this study 42 dogs naturally infected with B. canis and 14 healthy dogs were included. Dogs with babesiosis were divided into 3 groups: group A consisted of 9 non-azotemic dogs with normal urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPC < 0.5), group B of 27 non-azotemic dogs with UPC > 0.5 and group C of 6 azotemic dogs with UPC > 2. The concentrations of urinary immunoglobin G (IgG), retinol binding protein (RBP), uromodulin, kidney injury molecule - 1 (KIM-1), and serum symmetric dimethylarginine were measured by ELISA assays, while urinary albumin and N-acetyl-b-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were evaluated by an immunoturbidimetric and enzymatic colorimetric assay, respectively. Urinary markers were normalized to urine creatinine concentration. All tested markers, with exception of uromodulin, showed significant differences between dogs with babesiosis and healthy dogs, and also showed strong or very strong positive correlation with UPC. Increases of urinary albumin and IgG suggested glomerular damage, and increases of KIM-1, RBP and NAG proximal tubular damage in dogs with babesiosis. They demonstrated clear advantages compared to conventional parameters by showing earlier changes in detecting renal damage.

Systemic lupus erythematosus - diagnostic and treatment challenges

A 5.5-year-old Bischon Frise with a history of shifting-leg lameness, fever, weight loss, lethargy and anorexia was referred for a second opinion. The diagnostics led to a suspicion of SLE. A thorough physical examination, haematology, biochemistry, vector-borne diseases testing, urinalysis, x-ray of thorax, abdomen, carpal and tarsal joints, ultrasound of abdomen, synovial fluid and CSF fluid examination was performed to exclude differentials. A positive ANA test with four major and two minor clinical signs confirmed the diagnosis. The prednisone monotherapy administered proved to be sufficient.

Relation of antioxidant status at admission and disease severity and outcome in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis canis

BackgroundCanine babesiosis is caused by species of the Babesia genus and has become an emerging disease worldwide. To the authors’ knowledge there are no reports in which antioxidants have been analyzed in different presentations of canine babesiosis or in which the prognostic value of antioxidants has been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether oxidative stress could be related to the severity and outcome of canine babesiosis. For this purpose a profile consisting of four antioxidant biomarkers (superoxide dismutase - SOD, glutathione peroxidase - GPx, catalase, total antioxidant status - TAS) and malondialdehyde - MDA as an oxidant biomarker (previously evaluated, here studied for comparative purposes) were evaluated in dogs with canine babesiosis of different clinical severity and outcomes.ResultsThe study was conducted with a sample of 40 dogs suffering from babesiosis (further divided into uncomplicated, one complication and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome - MODS group) and 30 healthy dogs (control group). Additionally, the babesiosis group was divided according to the anaemia into non-anaemic, mildly anaemic, moderately anaemic and severely anaemic dogs. The results of our study showed significantly decreased SOD, catalase and TAS values in diseased dogs compared to controls, while there were no significant differences in GPx between these groups. Dogs that developed MODS showed lower activities of SOD and GPx and higher MDA values compared to dogs with uncomplicated babesiosis as well as with dogs that developed one complication. Superoxide dismutase, catalase and GPx were negatively correlated whereas MDA was positively correlated with the lethal outcome of the disease. Furthermore, this study detected more pronounced decrease in antioxidant biomarkers (SOD, GPx and catalase) in dogs with moderate anaemia compared to those with mild anaemia.ConclusionsThe results of this study showed changes in biomarkers related to the antioxidant status of dogs naturally infected with B. canis canis. These biomarkers could be used as indicators of disease severity and outcome in dogs suffering from babesiosis.