Pathological changes in dogs with echinococcal infestation in the Tyumen region

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Dogs are the definitive hosts of Echinococcus, so not only do they carry a dangerous infestation for farm animals and humans, but they are also exposed to the substantial toxic effects of helminths themselves. The present work aims to find out the pathological impact of Echinococcus on the intestinal microflora and some blood parameters in the organism of affected dogs under the conditions of the Tyumen region. The authors studied the pathological effect of the sexually mature parasites on the host organism in 8 mongrel dogs. The contents were inoculated on special nutrient media, followed by cell counting as part of the bacteriological analysis of fresh animal faeces. Bacteria were identified by microscopy of isolated cultures, examining morphological features and Gram staining. Blood was taken from dogs from the femoral vein in the morning before feeding for general and biochemical analysis. It was found that the digestive tract of the dogs infected with Echinococcus decreased in bifidoand lactobacilli by a factor of 2 (P<0.001) compared with those of intact individuals. Escherichia increased by 1.6 times, Staphylococcus was augmented by 4.1, and Clostridium increased by 8.3 (P<0.001), leading to intestinal dysbacteriosis, digestive disorders, and secondary toxicosis animals. General blood analysis showed a 30.2% reduction in erythrocytes, 26.7% in platelets and 32.4% in haemoglobin. This reduction is the result of the action of toxins in the body of the patients. In the leukoformula, changes are manifested by a slight increase in the proportion of granulocytes (by 6.6%) due to eosinophils (P<0.01) and a decrease in agranulocytes (by 20.0%). Biochemical blood analyses of dogs with echinococcosis showed a 17.7% reduction in total protein and a 3-fold decrease in cholesterol. A 2-fold increase in creatinine and urea, a 3.2fold increase in bilirubin, a 2.6-fold increase in ALT and AST, and a 2-fold increase in alkaline phosphatase indicate inhibition of liver and kidney function.