Prediction of Ehrlichia canis and Babesia canis in canine blood sample by Mindray BC-5000 Vet hematology analyzer

Abstract

Tick-borne diseases caused by the Babesia canis (B. canis) and Ehrlichia canis (E. canis), have been increasing recently in clinical veterinary. In veterinary clinics, complete blood counts (CBCs) are commonly analyzed using automated flow cytometric analyzers like the Mindray BC-5000 Vet hematology analyzer. In this study, the predictive significance of the diagnostic blood parasites B. canis and E. canis obtained from hematological parameter were measured. Red blood cell (RBC) and platelet parameters firstly discriminated the canine blood parasites infection from those healthy dogs. The diagnostic performance of absolute number of monocytes between B. canis and E. canis infection was sensitivity 67.9%, specificity 64.5% with AUC of 0.650 (p= 0.013) and percentage of monocyte was sensitivity 78%, specificity 58.1% with AUC of 0.653 (p= 0.016). Moreover, abnormal white blood cell (WBC) scattergram patterns were established for the diagnostic efficiency of the hematology analyzer in blood parasite detection. The sensitivity and specificity of B. canis were 31.3% and 91.0 %, respectively. Whereas the sensitivity was increased in E. canis (79.3 %). In summary, we established the prognostic value of diagnostic blood parasites, B. canis and E. canis, especially monocyte parameters and WBC scattergram patterns. It may be valuable in diagnosing blood parasites in canine species during routine laboratory hematology.