Changes in hematological parameters in dogs with gastrointestinal nematode doses

Despite the fact that the close relationship between humans and dogs and their role as companion animals bring many benefits, they also pose a risk to public health due to the possibility of infection of humans with dangerous pathogens of zooanthroponoses. Helminthic invasions in dogs can cause pathophysiological changes, which are accompanied by changes in their hematological parameters. Knowledge of these changes is especially important for understanding the pathogenesis of the disease and prescribing the necessary treatment. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of pathogens of nematodoses of the digestive tract, namely toxocariasis and trichuriasis, on the hematological parameters of infested dogs. The research was conducted in the conditions of the private veterinary clinic “Dovira” (Kharkiv) and the laboratory of the Department of Parasitology and Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise of the Poltava State Agrarian University (Poltava). Three groups of animals were formed, one of which was a control (clinically healthy dogs) and two experimental. The first experimental group included animals spontaneously infected with the toxocariasis pathogen, and the second group included animals spontaneously infected with the trichuris pathogen. The content of hemoglobin, the number of erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, hematocrit, and ESR were determined in the blood of dogs. The conducted studies in the blood of dogs with toxocariasis revealed a decrease in hemoglobin content by 13.9 %, a decrease in the number of erythrocytes by 12.1 %, a decrease in the hematocrit by 14.4 %, and an increase in the number of leukocytes by 34.9 % compared to similar indicators in clinically healthy animals. When studying the hematological parameters of dogs with trichuriasis, more severe changes were found, which are associated with the fact that the pathogen is a hematophage, and which were accompanied by a decrease in hemoglobin content by 17.5 %, the number of erythrocytes by 24.2 %, the hematocrit index by 18.5 %, an increase in the ESR index by 43.8 %, as well as an increase in the number of leukocytes by 40.9 % compared to similar indicators in clinically healthy animals. The data obtained allow us to take into account changes in the hematological parameters of dogs with toxocariasis and trichuriasis invasion for the correction of therapeutic measures and a more comprehensive and effective prescription of treatment.