Abstract
Babesiosis caused by the virulent tick-borne hemoprotozoan, Babesia rossi, results in a marked systemic inflammatory host response in dogs. Neutrophils form part of the innate immune response and contains myeloperoxidase (MPO) as the predominant component of the neutrophil lysosomal protein in azurophilic granules. The neutrophil myeloperoxidase index (MPXI), determined on the ADVIA hematology analyzer, is a quantitative estimate of intracellular MPO content. Objectives of this study were to: (a) compare MPXI in dogs with babesiosis with healthy control dogs; (b) compare MPXI in dogs that died from babesiosis with dogs that survived and controls; and (c) correlate the MPXI with the previously determined segmented and band neutrophil count and cytokine concentrations in dogs with babesiosis. Data for 140 dogs naturally infected with B. rossi and 20 healthy control dogs were retrospectively evaluated. Neutrophil counts and MPXI were determined on an ADVIA 2120 analyzer. Cytokine concentrations [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 (MCP-1)] were determined using a canine-specific multiplex immunoassay. The mortality rate of the Babesia-infected dogs was 11% (15/140). MPXI was significantly higher in Babesia-infected dogs (P = 0.033), and in Babesia-infected non-survivors (P = 0.011), compared with healthy control dogs. In Babesia-infected dogs a significant positive correlation was found between MPXI and IL-10 (r = 0.211, P = 0.039) and a significant negative correlation was found between MPXI and IL-8 (r = −0.350, P < 0.001). In Babesia-infected non-survivors, significant positive correlations were found between MPXI and IL-2 (r = 0.616, P = 0.033), IL-6 (r = 0.615, P = 0.033), IL-18 (r = 0.613, P = 0.034), GM-CSF (r = 0.630, P = 0.028), and MCP-1 (r = 0.713, P = 0.009). In Babesia-infected survivors, a significant negative correlation was found between MPXI and IL-8 (r = −0.363, P = 0.001). MPXI was correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokines in Babesia-infected dogs that died. The potential of MPXI as a novel marker of inflammation and prognosis in dogs infected with B. rossi, thus warrants further investigation.
Highlights
Babesia rossi is a hemoprotozoan parasite, transmitted by Haemophysalis elliptica ticks, and is considered the most pathogenic of the large canine babesias [1, 2]
The study by Goddard et al [7], of which some of the published data will be used in our study, reported that concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL8, IL-10, IL-18, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), were correlated with the severity of the pro-inflammatory response and outcome, in B. rossi-infected dogs
The objectives of this study were to retrospectively compare myeloperoxidase index (MPXI) in dogs infected with B. rossi to that in healthy control dogs and to establish the correlation of MPXI with the severity of the host inflammatory response, using cytokine concentrations and neutrophil counts
Summary
Babesia rossi is a hemoprotozoan parasite, transmitted by Haemophysalis elliptica ticks, and is considered the most pathogenic of the large canine babesias [1, 2]. Recent studies have confirmed the presence of a marked pro-inflammatory response in dogs infected with B. rossi, of which the severity was correlated with patient outcome [7, 8]. The study by Goddard et al [7], of which some of the published data will be used in our study, reported that concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL8, IL-10, IL-18, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), were correlated with the severity of the pro-inflammatory response and outcome, in B. rossi-infected dogs. The study by Leisewitz et al [8] showed that IL-6, MCP-1, as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were significantly higher in B. rossi-infected non-survivors compared to those that survived [8]. IL-8 was found to be negatively correlated with disease severity for both studies, with the control group having higher concentrations than either survivors or non-survivors [8]
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