Evaluation of some hematological changes in canine heartworm infection (Dirofilaria immitis)

This study was conducted on 80, 3-5 year old mixed breed dogs suspected of dirofilariasis in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Tabriz. The direct method and the modified knott’s method were used for diagnosis of the parasitic microfilaria. Hematologic parameters including white and red blood cell and platelet counts and the amounts of hemoglobin and hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), fibrinogen and protein were determined. This results of this study indicated that 20 of the 80 dogs examined were infected by Dirofilaria immitis microfilaria and the prevalence of dirofilariasis in this study was 25%. The mean levels of hematocrit, red blood cells and MCV in infected dogs were decreased significantly in comparison to the un-infected dogs and the mean levels of hemoglobin, MCH, MCHC and platelets did not show any significant differences. The mean levels of fibrinogen, protein, white blood cells and absolute and relative neutrophiles, eosinophiles, monocytes and basophiles were increased significantly and the mean levels of absolute and relative lymphocytes were decreased significantly in infected dogs compared to the healthy dogs.