Abstract
Babesia rossi infection causes a severe inflammatory response in the dog, which is the result of the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion. The aim of this study was to determine whether changes in cytokine concentrations were present in dogs with babesiosis and whether it was associated with disease outcome. Ninety-seven dogs naturally infected with B. rossi were studied and fifteen healthy dogs were included as controls. Diagnosis of babesiosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and reverse line blot. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein at admission, prior to any treatment. Cytokine concentrations were assessed using a canine-specific multiplex assay on an automated analyser. Serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) were measured. Twelve of the Babesia-infected dogs died (12%) and 85 survived (88%). Babesia-infected dogs were also divided into those that presented within 48 hours from displaying clinical signs, and those that presented more than 48 hours after displaying clinical signs. Cytokine concentrations were compared between the different groups using the Mann-Whitney U test. IL-10 and MCP-1 concentrations were significantly elevated for the Babesia-infected dogs compared to the healthy controls. In contrast, the IL-8 concentration was significantly decreased in the Babesia-infected dogs compared to the controls. Concentrations of IL-6 and MCP-1 were significantly increased in the non-survivors compared to the survivors. Concentrations for IL-2, IL-6, IL-18 and GM-CSF were significantly higher in those cases that presented during the more acute stage of the disease. These findings suggest that a mixed cytokine response is present in dogs with babesiosis caused by B. rossi, and that an excessive pro-inflammatory response may result in a poor outcome.
Highlights
Canine babesiosis caused by Babesia rossi is considered the most virulent form of the disease, with a mortality rate in complicated cases of around 10%, of which 80% die within the first 24 hours of admission [1]
An initial diagnosis of infection with babesiosis was made through the recognition of commensurate clinical signs and demonstration of intra-erythrocytic trophozoites and merozoites on stained thin blood smears, and was later confirmed as B. rossi by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse line blot (RLB)
Dogs were excluded if they were subsequently proven by PCR and RLB to be infected with B. vogeli or Ehrlichia canis, or euthanized for reasons other than poor prognosis
Summary
Canine babesiosis caused by Babesia rossi is considered the most virulent form of the disease, with a mortality rate in complicated cases of around 10%, of which 80% die within the first 24 hours of admission [1]. Cytokine Concentrations in Virulent Canine Babesiosis mediated by an exuberant blood-borne inflammation possibly due to ineffective modulation This results in organ damage and in some cases death due to organ failure [2,3,4]. Similarities in the pathology between babesiosis and malaria include severe haemolytic anaemia, icterus, coagulopathies, neurological signs, pulmonary oedema, circulatory collapse and acute kidney damage [4,8]. The fact that both diseases are so similar with regards to clinical signs and pathological lesions may imply that the mediators downstream from the initiating trigger are likely to be the same within each host
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