Disturbance of thyroid function in canine ehrlichiosis and babesiosis associated with oxidative stress

Abstract Canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis are endemic in India. The effect of these diseases on hematological and clinical biochemistry is well established; however, the association with thyroid function and oxidative stress is not known. Accordingly, we assessed the thyroid function and oxidative stress in the dogs with babesiosis (n = 8) and ehrlichiosis (n = 10) based on the blood smear examination. Non-infected dogs (n = 8) served as control. Assay of plasma free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) was done by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NOx) were done by spectrophotometric method. Hematology was done in the blood using Na2 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Na2 EDTA) as anticoagulant. Plasma FT3 and FT4 were significantly decreased by 1.79 to 1.82 pg/mL and 0.85 to 0.88 ng/dL, respectively, in the dogs with babesiosis or ehrlichiosis (P < 0.01). In contrast, plasma MDA and NOx were significantly increased by 2.904 to 3.576 nM/mL and 3.725 to 5.04 μM/mL, respectively, in the presence of infection (P < 0.01). Hematology showed anemia (P < 0.01), leukocytosis (P < 0.01), and lymphopenia (P < 0.01) in the presence of either Babesia gibsoni or Ehrlichia canis as compared to non-infected dog. The results indicated that hypothyroidism with concurrent oxidative stress might be responsible for pathophysiology in dogs with B. gibsoni and E. canis infectio...
Source: Comparative Clinical Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research