Erythrocyte associated haemato-biochemical changes in Babesia equi infection experimentally produced in donkeys.

The research investigates the impact of Babesia equi infection on red blood cells in donkeys. Through monitoring and analyzing the changes in various components of the blood cells during infection, the study reveals significant shifts in protein, phospholipids, and hemoglobin concentrations.

Introduction

Babesia equi is a parasitic organism that causes equine babesiosis, a disease which significantly affects the equine industry in India. It is tick-borne and causes harmful effects on the red blood cells of the animals it infects. However, these negative impacts, particularly, the changes induced by B. equi and its by-products on erythrocytes, have not been thoroughly investigated. This research focuses on this area, analyzing specifically the red blood cell membrane’s phospholipids, proteins, and hemoglobin content as well as the plasma’s malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.

Methodology

• The research subjected donkeys that carried B. equi to splenectomy, a procedure to remove the spleen, which consequently increased the parasitic infection rate in their blood. They then took measurements at different stages of parasitaemia (the presence of parasites in the blood).
• They collected data before the splenectomy, at less than 1% parasitaemia, and after splenectomy at 1-5, 5-15, 15-50 and more than 50% parasitaemia.

Findings

• Prior to splenectomy, the mean values of erythrocyte membrane protein, phospholipids, plasma MDA and hemoglobin in infected donkeys were documented and established as baseline measurements.
• Results indicated a significant increase in erythrocyte membrane protein concentration starting from 5-15% parasitaemia and maintained elevated levels with further increase in parasitaemia.
• Phospholipids and MDA levels also rose significantly but this trend only became evident once parasitaemia exceeded 50%.
• The levels of hemoglobin saw a general decline with increased parasitaemia and a particularly sharp drop when parasite levels reached above 50%.
• Blood smear examination revealed that phagocytosis, the process where cells engulf and effectively ‘eat’ particles, was occurring to both healthy and infected red blood cells of the host organism.

Significance

This study contributes to the understanding of the detrimental impacts of B. equi infection on red blood cells and provides significant insight into the changes in various elements and processes (especially protein, phospholipids, and hemoglobin levels and phagocytosis action) occurring in the blood with increasing parasitic infection. These findings could support further investigations into targeted treatments for equine babesiosis.