A retrospective study of the clinical hematology and the serum biochemistry tests made on canine dirofilariasis cases in an animal hospital population in Bangkok, Thailand

Heartworm disease, caused by the filarial nematode, Dirofilaria immitis, is a major, potentially life-threatening disease of dogs, with worldwide distribution and global significance. It is not only of veterinary importance but it also has zoonotic potential in many regions. It is considered as an endemic disease in Thailand, although clinical data about the disease is rarely reported. The objectives of this study were to characterize the clinical hematology and the biochemistry of canine dirofilariasis cases admitted to Chulalongkorn University, Small Animal Teaching Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, from 2001–2003. All hematology and serum biochemistry parameter interpretations were based on reference values. A total of 1023 dogs were evaluated in this study. Dogs were divided into three groups based on their heartworm classification (microfilaremic, occult and negative). The major hematological findings in microfilaremic dogs were a mild to moderate anemia, mild to severe thrombocytopenia, marked leukocytosis, moderate to marked neutrophilia, eosinophilia and monocytosis. The most common serum biochemical abnormalities in microfilaremic dogs included increased alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase with a mean ± SD of 311 ± 299, 82 ± 76 and 50 ± 38 IU/L, respectively. It is likely that this parasitic infection led to the impairment of the hematological and biochemical status of the infected dogs. We believe that investigation of these laboratory based parameters, when associated with the clinical signs, is a very important approach to be considered in the routine clinical follow up, as well as being important for therapeutic evaluations.