Abstract:

The aim of this study was to determine the blood clotting parameters such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), trombine time (TT) and fibrinogen in dogs with naturally infected giardiosis. Additionally, the heamatological and biochemical parameters were analysed in this study. For this purpose, a total of 170 animals obtained from two dog shelters in Kayseri province, aged between 1-3 years, different sex (84 males and 86 females) were included in this study. Sixty Giardia-positive dogs detected with antigenic practical kits, suffering from mild watery stools mild watery stools, were served as Group 1. Thirthy clinically healthy Giardianegative dogs were used as control group (Group 2). Blood samples were taken in to tubes with EDTA, Sodium-citrate and tubes without any anticoagulants from the dogs in both groups. In hematological examinations, the mean total leukocyte values (WBC) in Group 1 were significantly(p <0.05) higher than those of control group (Group II),but none of the biochemical and blood clotting parameters analyzed presented significant differences. Anemia, leucocytosis, low haemotocrit and haemoglobin levels were observed in two dogs showed severe symtomps of Giardiosis in our clinic. High Fibrinogen levels and prolonged TT were determined in these dogs. The mean Alkalen Phosphatase (ALP), Lactat Dehidrogenase (LDH), Urea (BUN), calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P) levels of these two dogs were higher than those of the both groups and the reference values, but the mean glucose and albumin levels were lower than those of the both groups. In conlusion, parameters of WBC, TT, fibrinogen, ALP, LDH, BUN, Ca, P, glucose, albumin should be taken into consideration at the clinical and laboratory evaluation of the dogs with severe clinical symptoms. Hovewer, further studies including high number of dogs with severe Giardia infection are needed.

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