Association of serum magnesium with haematological health indices in dogs

Magnesium (Mg) is the second most abundant trace element in the body of both humans and animals and is an essential element for health.  Hypomagnaesemia and hypermagnaesemia have been reported to be common occurrences in critically ill patients and were postulated to determine the prognosis of disease. This study was designed to ascertain the relationship between haematological health indices and serum Mg levels. A total of 103 dogs from the ‘dog market ‘of Jos, Plateau State were sampled. Blood was collected for complete blood count (CBC) using  standard manual procedures: Serum protein analysis was by the biuret colorimetric method, while serum Mg levels were determined with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Result showed that anaemic dogs (PCV < 35 %) had significantly (p<0.05) lower serum Mg (1.9 ± 0.15 mg/dL) than non-anaemic (PCV ≥ 35 %) dogs (2.6 ± 0.12 mg/dL). Dogs with regenerative anaemia (corrected reticulocyte count ≥ 1%) had significantly (p<0.05) lower serum Mg (2.3 ± 0.19 mg/dL) than dogs with non-regenerative anaemia (2.8 ± 0.12 mg/dL). Dogs with thrombocytopenia had significantly  (p<0.05) lower serum Mg (2.00 ± 0.16 mg/dL) than those with normal platelet counts (2.94 ± 0.12 mg/dL). Animals with marked leukopenia, mild neutropenia and marked lymphopenia had significantly (p<0.05) lower serum Mg levels. In conclusion, dogs with poor haematological health indices; low PCV, low platelet counts, low lymphocyte counts and low serum protein were associated with significantly lower serum Mg levels. Keywords: Dogs, Haematological health indices, Serum magnesium, Blood disorder

Comparative haematology of quantitative PCR negative trypanotolerant and trypanosusceptible cattle in Nigeria

Haematologic studies are helpful in the selection of genetically resistant animals. African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is an important protozoan parasitic disease associated with haematopathologies. There is dearth of information on the haematologic differences between trypanosusceptible (TS) and trypanotolerant (TT) cattle in the absence of AAT. Fifty apparently healthy adult cattle comprising 13 Muturu, 11 N’Dama (TT), and 26 White Fulani (TS) were sampled. Whole blood was collected for complete blood count (CBC), blood cell morphology, microscopic screening, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for trypanosome. Red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs) with unusual morphologies were quantified as number per 100 RBCs and WBCs, respectively. Trypanotolerant (TT) cattle had significantly higher packed cell volume (PCV) (34.48 ± 1.3 vs 31.08 ± 1.1%), haemoglobin concentration (HB) (12.901 ± 0.4 vs 10.2 ± 0.4 g/dL), and RBC count (6.2 ± 0.3 vs 4.8 ± 0.2 × 106/µL), than TS cattle. Lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in TT (3.6 ± 0.2 × 103/µL) than in the TS cattle (2.9 ± 0.2 × 103/µL); however, TS had higher neutrophil counts than TT cattle. Abnormal RBCs, namely acuminocytes (16.61 ± 3.5 vs 0.74 ± 0.3), cigantocytes (6.65 ± 0.7 vs 0.96 ± 0.3), degmacytes (1.78 ± 0.5 vs 0.48 ± 0.2), activated monocytes (5.44 ± 0.9 vs 1.91 ± 0.6), reactive lymphocytes (4.22 ± 0.9 vs 1 ± 0.5), and bi-nucleated lymphocytes (1.52 ± 0.4 vs 0.09 ± 0.1) were significantly higher in TT cattle. These findings may be indicative of increased haematopoiesis and a more active immunity in uninfected TT breeds