doi:10.5455/vetworld.2013.409-412 Physiological and haematological parameters of bitches affected with pyometra 1

Aim: The aim of the study was to find out alteration in physiological and haematological parameters in bitches affected with pyometra. Materials and methods: Physiological and haematological parameters were studied in twenty eight bitches affected with pyometra. Results: Evaluation of physiological parameters revealed that rectal temperature and respiration rate were increased in the bitches affected with pyometra where as heart rate did not reveal any significant change. In haematological parameters, haemoglobin, packed cell volume (PCV), total erythrocyte count (TEC) and lymphocyte count were decreased in the bitches affected with pyometra. The total leucocyte count (TLC), neutrophil count and monocyte count were increased in pyometra. Erythrocytic indices like mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) did not show any significant changes in the bitches. Conclusion: Normocytic and normochromic anaemia, leucocytosis, a predominant absolute neutrophilia, lymphopenia and monocytosis were the most common findings in all the bitches affected with pyometra.


Introduction
normochromic, non-regenerative anaemia is most frequently seen [8,9] which progresses to a microcytic, Pyometra, a hormonally mediated acute or hypochromic anaemia, when there is concurrent blood chronic polysystemic diestrual disorder was reported loss [10].In bitches affected with pyometra, mean to induce high mortality in bitches if not treated [1].It is corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular recognized as one of the main causes of disease and haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) remain within death in the bitch [2].It is a common disease in the normal range [11].Leucocytosis characterized by countries where routine spaying of young dogs is not absolute neutrophilia with a left shift [12], lymphocommon practice [3].Physiological, haematological penia and monocytosis with no significant variation in and biochemical changes in pyometra are considered Eosinophilic count are prominent blood picture in significant to assess the severity of the disease canine pyometra [5].condition [4].In canine pyometra, the mean rectal The aim was to study the changes in physiological temperature was elevated in all the bitches which and haematological parameters in bitches affected with clearly indicated septicaemia or bacteraemia and heart pyometra.rate did not show any significant variation [5].

of heart sounds, pulse quality was found in bitches
The present work was carried out at Department affected with pyometra [6].The respiration rate was of Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, elevated in all the animals might be due to infection and College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, toxaemia [5].Low haemoglobin (Hb) count along with Hyderabad.low packed cell volume (PCV) value and low total Twenty eight clinical cases of different breeds in erythrocyte count (TEC) was indicative of normocytic the age group of one to twelve years that were brought normochromic anaemia in the pyometra affected to the Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology and bitches [7] suspected for open type of pyometra which was further However, elevation in mean rectal temperature might confirmed by using diagnostic methods like abdominal be observed in 100 per cent bitches affected with palpation, radiography and ultrasound examination.
pyometra [5,15].In contrary to these studies, it has Physiological parameters like rectal temperature, been reported that bitches with pyometra having respiration rate and heart rate and haematological toxaemia might actually be hypothermic [13].The parameters like PCV, TEC, erythrocytic indices, TLC, normal rectal temperature in some of the bitches in the neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, eosinophil count present study might be due to chronic status of the and monocyte count were studied in the affected disease.bitches as per standard procedure before start of the Influence of pyometra on heart rate: The present treatment.
study revealed that before treatment the mean heart rate Bitches were divided into four groups each was within normal range in all the four groups which is consisting of seven bitches and subjected to different in accordance with the previous findings [5].A total of treatment protocols.We have considered bitches in five bitches (17.85%) showed slightly increased heart group for ease of record of parameters.The parameters rate which might be due to the effects of septicaemia or of any group were not affected by any treatment bacteraemia [6].In contrary, it has been reported because each parameter recorded before onset of elevated pulse rate and tachycardia is found in all the treatment.pyometra affected bitches [15].

Results
Influence of pyometra on respiration rate: In the present study, before treatment the mean respiration In the present study, there was an increase in mean rate was increased in all the four groups might be due to rectal temperature in pyometra affected bitches.infection and toxaemia [5].However, shallow However, 28.57 per cent bitches were having rectal respiration rate was reported in bitches affected with temperature within normal range.The present study pyometra [15].revealed that in 28.57 per cent of bitches TLC was found to be within normal range (< 17,000 cells).

Influence of pyometra on haematological parameters
Leucocytosis was moderate (17,000-30,000 cells) in Influence of pyometra on haemoglobin (Hb): In the 14.29 per cent of bitches, marked (30,000-50,000 cells) present study before treatment the mean haemoglobin in 42.85 per cent of bitches and extreme (>50,000 cells) level was decreased in the bitches affected with in 14.29 per cent of bitches.The neutrophil count was pyometra indicating anaemia which is in agreement found to be within normal range (< 77%) in 32.14 per with the previous reports [4,5,7,16].This might be due cent of bitches.Neutrophilia was moderate (77-79%) to loss of red blood cells by diapedesis into uterine in 35.72 percent of bitches, marked (80-89%) in 32.14 lumen apart from depressed feed intake and impaired percent of bitches.The detail values of all physioloerythropoiesis under toxaemic condition in severely gical and haematological parameters are represented in affected cases [7].Anaemia might be caused by toxic Table-1.
effects on the bone marrow, decreased erythrocyte

viability and loss of erythrocytes to the uterine lumen in
Influence of pyometra on physiological parameters bitches affected with pyometra.An increased iron affinity by the reticuloendothelial system and a Influence of pyometra on rectal temperature: The findings of our study are in agreement with several decreased total iron binding capacity is associated with reports [1,13].Fever is a variable sign and associated acute and chronic inflammatory diseases and may also with uterine inflammation and secondary bacterial induce iron deficiency and subsequent anaemia [5,16].infection as well as septicaemia or bacteraemia [14].
However 17.86 percent of the pyometra affected bitches showed haemoglobin level within normal of leucocytosis was observed in bitches affected with range might be due to concurrent dehydration [17].In pyometra might be due to severity of the inflammation contrary, haemoglobin level was within the normal varying between animals [7].range in 100 per cent of the pyometra affected bitches Influence of pyometra on differential leucocyte count [11].
(DLC): In the present study, absolute neutrophilia with shift to left, lymphopenia, monocytosis with normal

Influence of pyometra on packed cell volume (PCV):
eosinophil count was the most consistent finding In the present study before treatment the mean PCV among the bitches affected with pyometra.Neutrolevel was decreased in the bitches affected with philia with regenerative shift to the left might be due to pyometra indicating a mild normocytic, normochromic retention of purulent exudates in the uterus which and regenerative type of anaemia [7,14].However, in exerts a chemotactic effect on neutrophils resulting 17.86 per cent of bitches PCV level was found to be into accelerated granulopoiesis and lymphopenia within normal range (PCV > 35%) which is in might be due to severe stress and elevated monocyte accordance with the previous reports [17] which might count might be due to chronicity of suppurative process be due to concomitant dehydration [12].In the present [4,5].Neutrophilia is a typical feature in haematology study anaemia (PCV < 35%) was the most consistent of bitches affected with pyometra [14,20,21] which finding among 82.14 per cent of the bitches which is might be due to influence of toxins in pyometra [22].higher than the report of 25 per cent affected bitches Absolute neutrophilia, lymphopenia, eosinophilia and having PCV level less than 35 per cent [18].In monocytosis were common in pyometra [18,23,24].contrary, no change in PCV level in pyometra has also However, neutrophilia with shift to left, lymphopenia been reported [11].
with normal mean monocyte count, basophil count and Influence of pyometra on total erythrocyte count eosinophil count were constant features of pyometra (TEC): In the present study the mean total erythrocyte suggesting toxaemia [7].count before treatment was decreased in the bitches

Conclusion
affected with pyometra indicating anaemia [5,[7][8][9][10].Normocytic, normochromic anaemia might be Evaluation of physiological parameters revealed associated with the toxic depression of the bone that rectal temperature and respiration rate were marrow whereas severe non-regenerative, microcytic, increased in the bitches affected with pyometra where hypochromic anaemia accompanied by extremely high as heart rate did not reveal any significant change.In white blood cell levels might be indicative of a haematological parameters, haemoglobin, packed cell concurrent blood loss possibly by diapedesis into the volume (PCV), total erythrocyte count (TEC) and luminal pus and due to shortened life span of circulating lymphocyte count were decreased indicating erythrocytes associated with iron deficiency [17,18].normocytic and normochromic anaemia in the bitches The TEC level was found to be within normal range in affected with pyometra.Leucocytosis with a 17.86 per cent of bitches.In contrary, no change in TEC predominant absolute neutrophilia, lymphopenia and level in pyometra has also been reported [11].
monocytosis were consistently found in canine pyometra.

Influence of pyometra on erythrocytic indices:
The Authors' contribution present study revealed that the mean values of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular This article is the part of MVSc research work of the haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular first author.All authors contributed equally in the haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) before treatment whole research work as well as in the preparation of were within normal range in all the four groups manuscript.All authors read and approved the final indicating normocytic normochromic anaemia.These manuscript.findings were in accordance with the previous reports

Table - 1
. Physiological and haematological parameters in different groups of bitches affected with pyometra