Haematological and biochemical profile in experimental canine babesiosis (Babesia canis)

Haematological and biochemical parameters of dogs experimentally infected with Babesia canis were followed during a period of 12 weeks.

A few days after infection a normocytic, normochromic, anaemia developed that became slightly hypochromic and macrocytic after 12 days and regenerative after 28 days. Five seeks after infection red blood cell parameters returned to normal. Thrombocytopenia was present during the whole observation period of 12 weeks. The most important changes in the red blood cell parameters and certainly in thrombocyte levels occurred during the parasitaemic phases. Leucopenia due to neutropenia, lymphocytopenia and monocytopenia was irregularly observed, Mast white blood cell parameters returned to normal after 11 weeks, but an eosinaphilia developed from 7 weeks onwards.

Moderate and temporary increases of bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were observed during the first parasitaemic phase. Prolonged hypoalbuminemia was noticed until 5 weeks after infection.