RESEARCH ARTICLES
Comparative evaluation of darbepoetin therapy in non-regenerative anaemia associated with Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs
J. Parvathy, Arun George, V. R. Ambily, Usha Narayana Pillai, B. Dhanush Krishna and Gleeja V.L
doi: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2022.53.4.716-724
Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.2022.53(4):716-724.
Author Details
J. Parvathy : MVSc Scholar, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680 651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
Arun George : Assistant Professor Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy - 680 651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
V. R. Ambily : Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy - 680 651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
Usha Narayana Pillai : Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy - 680 651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
B. Dhanush Krishna : Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy - 680 651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
Gleeja V.L : Associate Professor and Head, Department of Statistics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India
Article History
Received: 29.06.2022, Accepted: 24.09.2022, Published online: 31.12.2022
Corresponding author: J. Parvathy
e-mail : parvathyjaya1994@gmail.com
Citation: Parvathy, J., Arun, G., Ambily, V.R., Usha, N.P., Dhanush, K.B. and Gleeja V.L. 2022. Comparative evaluation of darbepoetin therapy in non-regenerative anaemia associated with Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 53(4): 716-724
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2022.53.4.716-724
Abstract
The present study describes a comparative evaluation of haemato-therapeutic response to darbepoetin therapy in non-regenerative anaemia associated with Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs. A total of 68 dogs, presented at Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy with signs of anaemia, weakness, anorexia and pallor of mucous membranes were screened for nonregenerative anaemia. Twenty dogs with a reticulocyte count of < 60,000/μL, haematocrit of < 30 per cent and positive for B. gibsoni were selected for detailed study. The twenty dogs were divided into two groups of ten animals and were subjected to estimation of complete blood count and analysis of serum protein and iron status. Ten dogs brought to the hospital for vaccination or health check-up served as healthy control. Haematological examination revealed significant anaemia and thrombocytopenia in both the groups. Serum total protein, albumin and total iron binding capacity revealed no difference between diseased groups with the healthy control. Serum iron and percentage transferrin saturation were similar in Group I and II, but significantly higher than healthy control. To compare darbepoetin efficacy, Group I dogs were administered with clindamycin and doxycycline for three weeks, whereas Group II was given with darbepoetin at the dose rate of 0.5 μg/kg body weight at weekly intervals for three weeks in addition to clindamycin-doxycycline as in Group I. Dogs of both groups showed complete remission of clinical signs within 10 days of therapy. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in haematological parameters between the treatment groups. It can be concluded from this study that there is no added advantage of darbepoetin therapy over conventional therapies against non-regenerative anaemia associated with B. gibsoni infection in dogs.
Keywords: Babesia gibsoni, Darbepoetin, Non-regenerative anaemia, Reticulocyte count
