Changes in selected subpopulations of lymphocytes in dogs infected with Babesia canis treated with imidocarb.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to track changes in selected subpopulations of lymphocytes in the blood of dogs infected with Babesia (B.) canis and treated with imidocarb.

METHODS

The study included 16 dogs divided into two groups. The first group (n = 6) consisted of healthy control animals. Dogs of the se- cond group (n = 10) were infected with B. canis and after establishment of the diagnosis each animal received a single dose of imido- carb (5 mg/kg). Flow cytometry was used to enumerate several immune cell phenotypes.

RESULTS

It was concluded that the invasion of B. canis contributes to the decreased percentage of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD21+ lymphocytes in the blood of infected animals. The decreased level of tested subpopulations of lymphocytes in group 2 persisted for the entire 12-day period of the test. After the administration of imidocarb, each tested lymphocyte fraction in the blood of the dogs with babesiosis increased, but did not reach physiological values.

CONCLUSIONS

The presented results indicate that the resolution of clinical signs associated with babesiosis may be related to the stimulation and intensity of cellular immunity, dependent on the CD4+ T cells profile. After administration of imidocarb, the parasitemia is cleared which allows the recovery of the lymphocyte populations.