Original scientific paper

Arterial blood pressure values in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis.

Marin Torti ; Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Mihaela Čerlek ; Veterinarian, Zagreb, Croatia
Vesna Matijatko ; Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Mirna Brkljačić ; Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivana Kiš ; Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Iva Mayer ; Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Dalibor Potočnjak ; Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Vladimir Mrljak ; Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Babesiosis is a significant disease of domestic and wild animals caused by haemoprotozooan parasites of the Babesia genus. The aim of the present study was to compare arterial blood pressure values in healthy dogs and dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis (B. canis), and to compare arterial blood pressure values in dogs with complicated and uncomplicated babesiosis. An additional aim was to determine if hypotension is an important contributing factor in development of complicated babesiosis and whether it affects the outcome of the disease. Fifty dogs were included in this study, and were divided into two groups: healthy dogs (20 dogs) and dogs with babesiosis (30 dogs). The group of dogs with babesiosis was subdivided into a subgroup of dogs with complicated (12 dogs) and a subgroup of dogs with uncomplicated babesiosis (18 dogs). Babesiosis was diagnosed by demonstrating the presence of B. canis in Romanowsky stained blood smears. The study showed that dogs with babesiosis had lower blood pressure (systolic arterial pressure = 120 ± 96.76, diastolic arterial pressure = 68 ± 59.1, mean arterial pressure = 83 ± 65.08) compared to healthy dogs (systolic arterial pressure = 145 ± 44.02; diastolic arterial pressure = 92 ± 32.96; mean arterial pressure = 106 ± 22.38). Furthermore, blood pressure was higher in dogs with uncomplicated babesiosis (systolic arterial pressure = 162 ± 51.96, diastolic arterial pressure = 95 ± 48.38, mean arterial pressure = 116 ± 41.33) compared to healthy dogs (systolic arterial pressure = 145 ± 44.02; diastolic arterial pressure = 92 ± 32.96; mean arterial pressure = 106 ± 22.38), and lower in dogs with complicated babesiosis (systolic arterial pressure = 90 ± 69.38, diastolic arterial pressure = 48 ± 15.86, mean arterial pressure = 60 ± 22.38) compared to dogs with uncomplicated babesiosis (systolic arterial pressure = 162 ± 51.96, diastolic arterial pressure = 95 ± 48.38, mean arterial pressure = 116 ± 41.33). The results of this study confirm that hypotension is present in complicated forms of canine babesiosis caused by B. canis. Serial blood pressure measurements should be carried out in order to estimate the influence of blood pressure changes on the course and outcome of the disease.

Keywords

arterial blood pressure; systolic blood pressure; diastolic blood pressure; mean arterial pressure; dog; babesiosis

Hrčak ID:

130254

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/130254

Publication date:

5.12.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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