CLINICO-HEMATOLOGICAL CHANGES IN DOGS WITH HEPATOZOONOSIS OF PUDUCHERRY REGION

V. Vijayalakshmi*, N. Devadevi, P. Vijayalakshmi, A. Abiramy Prabavathy, K. Rajkumar and
P. Sree Kriskhna Sai

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and hematological changes in canine hepatozoonosis. Dogs exhibiting clinical manifestations of fever, inappetance, pale to congested mucous membrane and enlarged lymph node along with tick infestation were screened for hepatozoonosis, and the blood smear positive for Hepatozoon canis was included in the study group and was compared with the control group. The hematological parameters showed significant decrease (p<0.05) in mean Hemoglobin, Packed cell volume and Red Blood Cell count. The Mean Corpuscular Volume and Total Leukocyte Count, were significantly increased (p<0.05) in Hepatozoon affected dogs when compared with the control mean. The mean absolute eosinophil count and the mean absolute neutrophil count showed significant increase compared to control group (P < 0.01). Ticks were collected from the Hepatozoon infected animals and examined for species identification.

Keywords: Hepatozoon canis, hemogram, dogs, ticks.