Evaluation of oxidative status in dogs with anemia

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the oxidative status and the severity and type of anemia in dogs. A total of 70 dogs of various breeds, ages and of both sexes were enrolled in the study. Fifty dogs with anemia were classified according to the severity of anemia as mildly (n=18), moderately (n=18) or severely (n=14) anemic on the basis of the hematocrit (HCT) value. Anemia in the same dogs was also classified according to the type as regenerative (n=26) or non-regenerative (n=24) on the basis of the absolute reticulocyte count. Twenty dogs were used as healthy control. Total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) values in plasma as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) activities in erythrocyte hemolysate were measured to evaluate the oxidative status. The plasma TOS value was increased in all anemic dogs, irrespective of the severity of anemia, whereas a significant increase in the TAC value and a significant decrease in erythrocyte GSH-Px activity were observed in mild and moderate anemia. Plasma TOS and TAC values were higher in dogs with both types of anemia when compared to the healthy group. A significant increase in plasma MDA concentration and a significant decrease in GSH-Px activity were observed in the non-regenerative anemia group. There were moderate negative correlations between HCT and TOS values in the mild anemia group and between HCT and erythrocyte GSH-Px activity in the regenerative anemia group. In conclusion, oxidative stress develops in dogs with anemia, and it is largely independent of the severity and type of anemia. These results suggest that further studies with different etiologies may also be useful for evaluating the efficacy of antioxidants administered at different doses and in different combinations to treat anemia in dogs.