Albumin-to-Platelet Ratio in Dogs Infected with Ehrlichiosis: Clinical Significance in Relation to the Severity of Anemia

Öz

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis is a vector-borne infectious disease that can be fatal. The disease may range from asymptomatic infection to severe and even life-threatening illness, and clinical signs such as depression, fever, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia can be observed in infected animals. Platelet and albumin levels can serve as indicators of inflammation, with their values varying according to the severity of the inflammatory response. This study aimed to determine the potential prognostic importance of the platelet-albumin ratio (PAR) in the clinical course of the disease by evaluating its relationship with the severity of anemia in dogs infected with ehrlichiosis. Fifty infected animals diagnosed with Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis were included in the study. Based on whole blood hematocrit values, the dogs were classified into four groups: non-anemic (HCT (%) ≥37), mildly anemic (HCT (%) ≥30, <37), moderately anemic (HCT (%) ≥20, <30), and severely anemic (HCT (%) <20). As the severity of anemia increased, statistically significant decreases in Hb (14.1→5.3 g/dl), Hct (48.0→14.3%), and albumin (2.55→1.9 g/dl) levels were detected (p<0.001), while no significant difference was found in RDW values. Platelet counts were highest in mild anemia (314×10⁹/L) but markedly decreased in severe anemia (107×10⁹/L, p=0.009). Although no significant difference was observed in the PLT/ALB ratio, a decreasing trend was noted in the severe anemia group. PAR showed a tendency to decrease in parallel with the severity of anemia in dogs with E. canis infection; however, no significant difference was found, indicating that further research is needed to determine its diagnostic and prognostic value in different diseases.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Anemia
• Ehrlichiosis
• Dog
• Platelet-to-Albumin Ratio

Ehrlichiosis ile Enfekte Köpeklerde Albumin-Trombosit Oranı: Aneminin Şiddetine Bağlı Klinik Önemi

Öz

Kanin Monositik Ehrlichiosis vektör kaynaklı bulaşıcı ve ölümcül seyreden bir hastalıktır. Hastalık asemptomatik enfeksiyondan şiddetli ve hatta yaşamı tehdit eden boyuta kadar değişebilmektedir ve enfekte hayvanlarda depresyon, ateş, lökopeni ve trombositopeni gibi klinik belirtiler görülmektedir. Trombosit ve albümin düzeyleri inflamasyonun bir göstergesi olabilmekte ve inflamasyon şiddetine göre düzeyleri değişebilmektedir. Bu çalışmada ehrlichiosis ile enfekte köpeklerde trombosit-albumin oranının (TAO) aneminin şiddeti ile ilişkisini değerlendirerek, hastalığın klinik seyrindeki potansiyel prognostik öneminin belirlenmesi amaçlandı. Kanin Monositik Ehrlichiosis’li olduğu tespit edilen 45 enfekte hayvan çalışmaya dahil edildi. Hayvanlar hematokrit değerine göre anemik olmayan (HCT (%) ≥37), Hafif anemik (HCT (%) ≥30, <37), Orta derece anemik (HCT (%) ≥20, <30), şiddetli anemik (HCT (%) <20) olarak 4 grupta değerlendirildi. Aneminin şiddeti arttıkça Hb (14.1→5.3 g/dl), Hct (48.0→14.3%,) ve albumin (2.55→1.9 g/dl) düzeylerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı azalmalar saptanırken (p<0.001), RDW değerleri arasında anlamlı fark bulunmadı. Trombosit sayıları hafif anemide (314×10⁹/L) en yüksek düzeyde olup şiddetli anemide belirgin şekilde azaldı (107×10⁹/L, p=0.009), PLT/ALB oranında ise anlamlı farklılık olmamasına rağmen şiddetli anemi grubunda düşüş eğilimi gözlendi. TAO’un köpeklerde E. canis enfeksiyonunda anemi şiddetine paralel azalma eğilimi gösterdiği, ancak anlamlı fark saptanmadığı ve farklı hastalıklarda tanısal-prognostik değerinin belirlenmesi için daha fazla araştırmaya ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Anemi
• Ehrlichiosis
• Köpek
• Trombosit-Albumin oranı

Kaynakça

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