PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL FINDINGS ON BLOOD OF BEAGLES EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH BABESIA GIBSONI

Abstract

Severe hemolytic anemia was observed in the peripheral blood of beagles infected with B. gibsoni, in the acute stage of infection, with an increase of parasitized erythrocytes beginning on the 1st week postinfection. Haptoglobin concentration in the serum decreased remarkably up to the 2nd week postinfection, showing little or no haptoglobin in the serum on the 3rd week to the 5th week postinfection. An abrupt increase of monocytes and neutrophils in the acute stage was noted, showing degenerated figures with some vacucles in some cells. The beta and gamma globulins in the serum increased and albumin decreased remarkably in the acute stage. The gamma globulins remained at a level remarkably higher than the preinfection level until the 24th week postinfection. Rapid increase of IgM and IgG fluorescent antibody titers was noted on the 1st week postinfection, showing a tendency for relatively higher activity to continue to the 24th week postinfection.