Bottari Nathieli B, Crivellenti Leandro Z, Borin-Crivellenti Sofia, Oliveira Jéssica R, Coelho Stefanie B, Contin Catarina M, Tatsch Etiane, Moresco Rafael N, Santana Aureo E, Tonin Alexandre A, Tinucci-Costa Mirela, Da Silva Aleksandro S
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Santa Maria Federal University (UFSM), Brazil.
Department of Veterinary Clinic and Surgery, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil; Department of Veterinary Clinic and Surgery, Franca University (UNIFRAN), Franca, Brazil.
Microb Pathog. 2016 Mar;92:26-29. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2015.11.030. Epub 2015 Dec 24.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidant profile and iron metabolism in serum of dogs infected by Ehrlichia canis. Banked sera samples of dogs were divided into two groups: negative control (n = 17) and infected by E. canis on acute (n = 24), and subclinical (n = 18) phases of the disease. The eritrogram, leucogram, and platelet counts were evaluate as well as iron, ferritin, and transferrin levels, latent iron binding capacity (LIBC), and transferrin saturation index (TSI) concentration. In addition, the advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) in sera were also analyzed. Blood samples were examined for the presence of E. canis by PCR techniques. History and clinical signals were recorded for each dog. During the acute phase of the disease, infected animals showed thrombocytopenia and anemia when compared to healthy animals (P < 0.05) as a consequence of lower iron levels. Ferritin and transferrin levels were higher in both phases (acute and subclinical) of the disease. The AOPP and FRAP levels increased in infected animals on the acute phase; however, the opposite occurred in the subclinical phase. We concluded that dogs naturally infected by E. canis showed changes in the iron metabolism and developed an oxidant status in consequence of disease pathophysiology.
