Relationship between paraoxonase 1 activity and high density lipoprotein concentration during naturally occurring babesiosis in dogs

• Babesiosis is characterized by oxidative damages and acute phase response.
• We measured oxidative (PON1 and HDL) as well as inflammatory (CRP) markers in dogs affected by babesiosis and during therapy.
• PON1 and HDL were lower at admission compared with controls.
• HDL rapidly increased 24 hours after treatment.
• PON1 and CRP normalized only 1 week after treatment.

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is a negative acute phase protein bound to high density lipoproteins (HDL) and during the acute phase response (APR) protects HDL from peroxidation. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between PON1 and HDL in canine babesiosis, a disease characterized by oxidative damages and by an APR. PON1, HDL and C-reactive protein (CRP), were measured in blood collected from 15 controls and 29 dogs with babesiosis sampled at admission, and on days 1 and 7 after treatment. At admission, PON1 and HDL were significantly lower in affected dogs. HDL concentration increased at day 1 while PON1 increased and CRP decreased at day 7. This suggests that the decrease of PON1 at admission is in part due to an increased consumption, the decreased HDL may depend on lipid peroxidation and its rapid increase after treatment may depend on the antioxidant activity of PON1.