Complete blood count, total plasma protein, neutrophil oxidative metabolism, and lipid peroxidation in female dogs with pyometra associated with Escherichia coli

Abstract

Pyometra is a common uterine disease found in adult female dogs during diestrus and it typically presents with several systemic abnormalities. The aim of this study was to evaluate complete blood counts (CBC), neutrophil oxidative metabolism, and lipid peroxidation in female dogs diagnosed with pyometra associated with Escherichia coli (E. coli). Twenty adult female dogs, from 2 to 14 years old, were allocated into two different groups. Animals placed in group 1 (G1) (n = 12) were diagnosed with pyometra associated with E. coli and animals placed in group 2 (G2) (n = 8) were clinically healthy female dogs. Red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin were significantly lower in G1 than in G2. A significant increase in total plasma protein and white blood cell count (segmented neutrophils, band neutrophils, and monocytes) occurred in G1 when compared to G2. The neutrophil oxidative metabolism was also increased in G1, but lipid peroxidation showed no difference between the two groups. CBC results revealed a normocytic, normochromic anemia and leukocytosis characterized by a neutrophilia with a left shift in adult female dogs with pyometra associated with E. coli. Additionally, neutrophil oxidative metabolism showed an increase in its activity without producing lipid peroxidation, which possibly indicates that the anemia in canine pyometra is not related to oxidative stress.