Investigation of haematological alterations in ancylostomosis in dogs of Thrissur, Kerala

Abstract

The study investigated haematological alterations in dogs infected with Ancylostoma spp. in Thrissur district, Kerala, over a one-year period. Blood samples from 50 infected dogs and 10 healthy controls were analysed for complete blood count (CBC) using a five-part automatic haematological analyser. Significant changes were observed in several parameters: infected dogs exhibited elevated neutrophil and basophil counts, along with reduced red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), volume of packed red cells (VPRC) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH). Platelet distribution width (PDW) was also significantly increased in infected animals. The findings indicated that dogs with ancylostomosis suffer from normocytic hypochromic regenerative anaemia, likely due to chronic blood loss and nutrient deficiencies. These results provide valuable insights into the haematological impact of canine ancylostomosis and its associated anaemia, aiding in the diagnosis and management of infected animals.