Clinico-biochemical responses of dogs to experimental infection with Babesia canis

Aim: A study on the clinical and biochemical parameters of Nigerian dogs experimentally infected with Babesia canis was conducted. Materials and Methods: A total of ten naive dogs of both sex and aged between 6 months to 1 year, were used for the study. They were divided into two groups of five each-A (control) and B (infected). Dogs in group B were infected with 1ml of Babesia canis positive infectious inoculum, while those in group A were left as uninfected control. Following infection, clinical and biochemical responses were analyzed in group B and compared with those in group A. Results: Clinical signs were observed on the infected dogs 2 days post infection, which included fever (100%), increase in pulse (80%), tachycardia (60%) and inappetence (100%); followed by anorexia (40%) and lethargy (100%) on day 3; on the fourth day, pallor of the mucous membrane of the mouth and eye (100%) and emaciation (100%); on day five, muscle tremor (20%) and respiratory distress (20%); on day six, nervousness (20%), drooling salivation (20%) and haemoglobinuria (80); on day seven, mucoid ocular discharge (40%); followed by the death of one dog on day 8 post infection. Other clinical signs recorded between days 1-14 post infection were ascites, edematous swelling of the whole body and hair erection. The biochemical changes showed that there was a significant (p < 0.05) rise in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) values in infected dogs (58.50 +/- 1.4) compared with the control group (51.67 +/- 1.6). Also, there was a significant rise (p < 0.05) in the alanine amino transferase (ALT) values of infected group (15.70 +/- 1. 8) compared with the control values (8.27 +/- 2.0). However, the mean values for creatinine of infected group (78.10 +/- 1.2) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that of the control (91.73 +/- 1.3). Similarly, the glucose levels for infected group (3.80 +/- 2.3) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of control (5.35 +/- 2.1). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the disease runs an acute as well as a chronic course in the study area and that Diminazene aceturate at a dose rate of 0.3mg/kg body proved effective against parasitaemia within two weeks post chemotherapy.