Haemato-biochemical and thyroxin status in Trypanosoma evansi infected dogs

In one year period of study, dogs with inappetence, fever, ocular discharges, dullness, enlarged lymph nodes were screened for the presence of haemoprotozoans at College Hospital of College of Veterinary Science, Tirupati. Wet blood film examination and stained blood smear examination was done to confirm the condition. Peripheral blood smears of dogs revealed the presence of Trypansomes. Trypanosoma evansi was confirmed based on the morphology and measurements of the organisms in the stained blood smears.  Haematology revealed decreased total erythrocyte count, packed cell volume, haemoglobin and total leucocyte count values. Total serum proteins, albumin and glucose levels were decreased significantly (P < 0.01), but a significant increase (P < 0.01) in cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum aspartate aminotransferase and serum alanine aminotransferase levels were observed. Decreased total T4 and free T4 were also observed in the T. evansi infected dogs.