Noha Yousef Salem^*, Shimaa Ghanem Yehia, Mohamed Ahmed El-sherif

Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

*Correspondence | Noha Yousef Salem, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; E-mail: nemovet2011@gmail.com

Abstract
Poor growth rate and intermittent diarrhea in pets are common problem faced on daily practice. T. canis is one of the most common cause to these problem and has a major health impact to both veterinarian and pet owner. This study aims to scrutinize hemato-biochemical and mineral status in dogs suffering from intermittent diarrhea and unthriftness due to T. canis. Thirty dogs were involved in this investigation, hematologic, serum and stool samples were taken and examined. Significant decrease in RBCs, HB, and PCV (P≤0.01, P≤0.001) along with significant increase (P≤0.05) in WBCs and eosinphils (P≤0.01) were the most consistent hematologic alterations recorded. Significant decrease (P≤0.01, P≤0.05) in TP, albumin accompanied by significant increase (P≤0.05) in ALT, AST and cholesterol values were found. Mineral profile showed significant decrease (P≤0.05) in zinc, copper and iron levels in the examined dogs. In conclusion, Toxocara canis infection appeared to have direct effect on mineral status, in dogs suffered from diarrhea due to T. canis, the cholesterol levels change; anemia is furthermore major health concern associated with the parasite and affects the growth of these dogs.

Keywords | Diarrhea, Toxocara canis, Mineral profile, Hematology, Biochemical alterations

Editor | Muhammad Abubakar, National Veterinary Laboratories, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Received | November 17, 2015; Revised | December 27, 2015; Accepted | December 02, 2015; Published | February 05, 2016

Citation | Salem NY, Yehia SG, El-Sherif MA (2015). Hemato-Biochemical and mineral status in dogs with intermittent diarrhea and unthriftiness . Res. J. Vet. Pract. 3(4): 89-92.

ISSN | 2308-2798

Copyright © 2015 Salem et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.