CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON THROMBOCYTOPAENIC DOGS WITH HAEMOSTATIC DISORDERS
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Date
2021-12-30
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR
Abstract
Thrombocytopaenia is the most commonly observed haemostatic disorder
in dogs, which result in spontaneous bleeding. A study on “Clinico - pathological
investigations on thrombocytopaenic dogs with haemostatic disorders” was
conducted in 20 dogs presented to University Veterinary Hospitals, Mannuthy and
Kokkalai with a history of bleeding tendencies, platelet count less than one
lakh/cmm and capillary bleeding time (CBT) more than 2.5 min. The aetiologies
were identified using blood smear and buffy coat evaluation, MAT titer,
haematology, serum biochemistry, coagulation assays, radiography and
ultrasonography. Based on the total canine medical cases, thrombocytopaenic
cases accounted for about 6.5 per cent. Among these thromboctopaenic cases,
dogs with platelet count less than one lakh accounted for 281 dogs. Among these
281 dogs, the occurrence of infectious or inflammatory thrombocytopaenia,
thrombocytopaenia due to neoplasia, disseminated intravascular coagulation and
miscellaneous disorders accounted for about 68, 6.4, 3.9 and 21.7 per cent,
respectively. The 281 dogs with platelet count less than one lakh were screened
for prolonged CBT which accounted for 20 dogs and subjected to detailed
investigation. According to the presence of primary and secondary haemostatic
defects in this study, all the 20 cases belonged to a combination of haemostatic
defects. The common bleeding manifestations observed in the study were
dermatorrhagia, blood in faeces, haemoglobinuria, haematuria, and haematemesis.
Haematology revealed microcytic anaemia, neutrophilic leukocytosis and
thrombocytopaenia with low platelet distribution width. A statistically significant
difference was observed in the mean concentration of alanine aminotransferase,
alkaline phosphatase (p<0.05) and albumin (p<0.01) between the diseased group
and the control group. The mean values of capillary bleeding time, prothrombin
time, activated partial thromboplastin time, activated clotting time, D-Dimer of
diseased group showed a statistically significant increase (p<0.01) when compared
with the control group. Hypoantithrombinemia observed in the diseased group was
also statistically significant (p<0.01). Splenomegaly was the most common
finding in radiography and ultrasonography. According to the present study,
hypoantithrombinemia and elevated D-Dimer (p<0.05) with normal to mildly
elevated coagulation parameters could be used as markers for the early
identification of hypercoagulable state in thrombocytopenic dogs. Hence, it might
aid in saving the life of animals by rectifying the risk of developing thrombotic
events. Moreover, hypoantithrombinemia with severely prolonged coagulation
parameters indicated hypocoagulable state that guarded the prognosis. Prolonged
PT, aPTT, elevated levels of fibrinogen degradation products or D–Dimer, low AT
III concentration and presence of schistocytes could be used as a marker for DIC.
Description
Submitted in the partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Veterinary Science in Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence