Journal
VETERINARY JOURNAL
Volume 196, Issue 2, Pages 213-217Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.09.009
Keywords
Babesia rossi; Coagulopathy; Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC); Prognosis; Dog
Categories
Funding
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, University of Pretoria
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The inflammatory response to infection can activate the coagulation system via complex interactions. If uncontrolled, this may lead to a consumptive coagulopathy, a major risk factor for a poor clinical outcome. This prospective observational study was conducted to determine whether consumptive coagulopathy in dogs with Babesia rossi infection is related to mortality. Seventy-two client-owned dogs diagnosed with canine babesiosis were included. Diagnosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and reverse line blot and dogs co-infected with Babesia vogeli or Ehrlichia canis were excluded. Blood samples were collected at admission. Coagulation factor-, antithrombin (AT)-, and protein C (PC)-activity, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen and D-dimer concentrations were measured. The mortality rate was 18% (13/72 dogs) and the median activities of all the coagulation factors were significantly lower in the non-survivors compared to the survivors. Median PT and aPTT were significantly longer in the non-survivors compared to the survivors. Median AT activity was not significantly different but median PC activity was significantly decreased in the non-survivors. Median D-dimer concentrations were significantly higher in non-survivors compared to survivors. This study showed that dogs that died from B. rossi infection had a more severe consumptive coagulopathy compared to survivors, characterized by procoagulant activation, inhibitor consumption, and increased fibrinolytic activity. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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