Original Scientific Article Acute B. canis infection can lead to an acute phase reaction (APR) in dogs. The parasite invades red blood cells causing anemia through immune-mediated hemolysis and possible erythropoietic suppression. A regenerative response of the erythroid lineage during the babesiosis has not been described in extension. This research examines hematologic parameters focusing on the absolute reticulocyte count and apolipoprotein A I (ApoA I) level on the day of admission and 14 days after treatment with imidocarb-dipropionate in young (n=11) and adult (n=11) dogs naturally infected with B. canis. Metabolic and inflammatory processes were characterized by analyzing protein and lipid profiles, as well as ApoA I at specified time points. Automated analyzers were used to determine complete blood count and biochemical parameters, while ApoA I was assessed using radioimmunoassay. The reticulocyte count was determined using a manual method by means of supravital staining. Both young and adult dogs with acute B. canis infection showed non-regenerative anemia without difference. Fourteen days after successful treatment with imidocarb-dipropionate, the anemia was corrected and a high reticulocyte count was observed (p<0.05). This indicates that the erythroid regenerative response was efficient in young and adult dogs, although vital signs, leukocyte count and triglyceride concentration suggest a more intense APR in young dogs. A decrease in ApoA I in both groups 14 days after treatment (p<0.01) confirmed that this lipoprotein acts as a positive acute-phase protein in acute B. canis infection in dogs, but further studies are needed to connect its role in erythroid lineage regeneration. https://macvetrev.mk/LoadArticlePdf/379 2024-3-15 13 21 10.2478/macvetrev-2024-0011 Babesia canis dog reticulocyte count, paired blood samples ApoA I Zorana Milanović zorana.milanovic@vin.bg.ac.rs false 1 Laboratory for Radioisotopes, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Mike Petrovića Alasa 12-14, P.O. Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia LEAD_AUTHOR Anja Ilić Božović false 2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, Belgrade, Serbia AUTHOR Žanka Bojić-Trbojević false 3 INEP-Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, Zemun, Serbia AUTHOR Ljiljana Hajduković false 4 INEP-Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, Zemun, Serbia AUTHOR Jelena Francuski Andrić false 5 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, Belgrade, Serbia AUTHOR Milica Kovačević Filipović false 6 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, Belgrade, Serbia AUTHOR Brandão, L.P., Hagiwara, M.K., Myiashiro, S.I. (2003). Humoral immunity and reinfection resistance in dogs experimentally inoculated with Babesia canis and either treated or untreated with imidocarb dipropionate. Vet Parasitol. 114(4): 253-265. 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