The impact of dipylidiasis infestation on hematological parameters of sick dogs

Dipylidium caninum, caused by the cucumber tapeworm, is a common intestinal parasite of dogs. The causative agent of dipylidium caninum is one of the most common types of helminthiasis observed in carnivorous animals. The danger of this parasite is also based on the fact that there is a risk of infection in humans, especially children. The leading link in the pathogenesis of the helminthic process is the formation of relationships consisting of factors of the influence of helminths on the animal body and the characteristics of reactions from their hematological indicators. The work aimed to investigate the effect of dipylidium invasion on the hematological indicators of dogs spontaneously infected with cestodes Dipylidium caninum. Three experimental groups of dogs were formed, which were infested with dipylidia with different invasion intensities: up to 2 cocoons in 1 g of feces, from 3 to 7 cocoons in 1 g of feces, from 8 to 14 cocoons in 1 g of feces. According to the results of the conducted studies, it was established that changes in hematological indicators in dogs with spontaneous dipylidiasis depend on the indicators of the intensity of infection of animals. With an invasion intensity of 350 to 7 cocoons/g and from 8 to 14 cocoons/g, the hematocrit index in the blood of dogs infested with dipylidia significantly decreased by 14.8 % (P < 0.05) and 20.9 % (P < 0.01), respectively, compared with clinically healthy animals. In the experimental groups of dogs, a decrease in hemoglobin content, the number of erythrocytes and platelets was found, depending on the intensity of the invasion, by 24.4–36.7 % (P < 0.001), 17.1–23.2 % (P < 0.01…P < 0.001) and 32.1–43.3 % (P < 0.05…P < 0.001). At the same time, in dogs infected with dipylidia, depending on the intensity of the invasion, an increase in the number of leukocytes was found, respectively, by 16.3–56.3 % (P < 0.05…P < 0.001) and ESR indicators – up to 2 times (P < 0.001) compared to similar indicators in clinically healthy dogs. The results expand existing data on certain links in the pathogenesis of dipylidiasis in dogs, allow us to understand the changes that occur in the blood of infected dogs, and effectively prescribe comprehensive treatment for animals.