Babesiosis is a worldwide tick-borne zoonosis caused by hemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. After entering the body, pathogens remain in the spleen cells within the reticulo-entothelial system.
Aim: The aim of the research was to perform macro- and microscopic analysis of changes in the spleen of pet/watch dogs with babesiosis in relation to control animals.
Materials and methods: Pieces of the spleen as a target organ for babesia infection were examined by histological methods (staining of micropreparations with hematoxylin and eosin) with morphometric examination. Comparison of control samples (CC, n=15) was performed with the clinical observation group (EG / COG, n=187).
Results: Analysis of native preparations of the spleen in control animals showed that the changes in them corresponded to the variants of the anatomical and physiological norm and were within the sex-age parameters of postnatal ontogenesis of each of the relevant breeds and species of the examined vertebrates. The animals belonging to the examined group showed macroscopic changes in the organ (splenomegaly, ruptures of the spleen, edema). Microscopic nonspecific markers of babesiosis involved the appearance and development of nonspecific follicular hyperplasia, leukocyte/macrophage reactions, disorders in the zonal differentiation of lymphoid follicles, germinal centers, signs of pulp softening, desquamation of the endothelial vascular layer and local circulation disorders.
Conclusions: Macro- and microscopic changes in babesiosis were organotypic in nature, stimulated the development of hepatolienal syndrome with an increase in the percent area of the white pulp up to 39.78 ± 1.99% due to the presence of the pathogens (Babesia spp.). The above-mentioned impairments were subjective signaling markers of babesiosis.
Keywords: babesiosis; home/domestic dogs; morphological changes; spleen.
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