Hematological analysis of naturally infecting blood parasites in dogs

Vet World Vol.16 April-2023 Article-3

Research Article

Veterinary World, 16(4): 681-686

https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2023.681-686

Worakan Boonhoh^1,2,3, Narin Sontigun^2,4, Punpichaya Fungwithaya^1,2,4, and Tuempong Wongtawan^1,2,4

1. Small Animal Research Group, Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand.
2. One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160, Thailand.
3. Center of Excellence in Innovation on Essential Oil and Bioactive Compounds, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160, Thailand.
4. Center of Excellence Research for Melioidosis and Other Microorganisms, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand.

Background and Aim: Blood parasite infections such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis are commonly found in domestic dogs, which adversely influence their health. Many dogs are infected with multiple blood parasites that cause more severe diseases than a single infection. This study aimed to investigate the effect of multiple blood parasite infections on the hematological profiles of dogs at a shelter in Southern Thailand.

Materials and Methods: The blood samples from 122 dogs were collected to assess the hematology profiles of uninfected, single-infected, and multiple blood parasite-infected dogs. The results were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test and Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner pairwise comparisons. The infections were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction.

Results: The results showed that all the infected dogs had significantly lower red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (HB), hematocrit (HCT), and platelet count (PLT) than the uninfected dogs. Although the dogs with triple infection had lower RBC, HB, HCT, and PLT than those with double and single infections, the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: We proposed that triple blood parasite infection with Anaplasma platys, Babesia vogeli, and Ehrlichia canis caused more severe disease than double and single infections. Evaluating the hematological profiles of dogs naturally infected with single, double, and multiple blood parasite infections without clinical signs can enhance their health and welfare. Keywords: blood parasite, dogs, hematology, multiple blood parasite infection, tick-borne pathogens.

Keywords: blood parasite, dogs, hematology, multiple blood parasite infection, tick-borne pathogens.

How to cite this article: Boonhoh W, Sontigun N, Fungwithaya P, and Wongtawan T (2023) Hematological analysis of naturally infecting blood parasites in dogs, Veterinary World, 16(4): 681-686.

Received: 04-01-2023 Accepted: 17-02-2023 Published online: 04-04-2023

Corresponding author: Worakan Boonhoh E-mail: worakan.bo@mail.wu.ac.th

DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.681-686

Copyright: Boonhoh, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.