Clinical peculiarities of malabsorption of proteins and cobalamine on dogs with pathology caused by protozoa
Diseases of the small intestine can lead to disruption of protein absorption, destruction of cobalamin receptors and impaired absorption of cobalamin. Etiological causes of malabsorption may be parasitic protozoa. The aim of the work was to assess the clinical changes in the biochemical parameters of blood and the level of cobalt-containing biologically active substances (vitamin B12) and folate (vitamin B9) infested by Giardia sp. and Cystoisospora sp. dogs. Evaluated the symptoms of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. As a result of a study of 83 dogs with intestinal protozoa, 32 young dogs (72.7%) showed clinical signs of changes in feces consistency, while 12 dogs showed no such signs (27.3%). Among older dogs, 26 (66.6%) had diarrhea or other changes in the feces, and 13 (33.4%) had no changes with bowel movements. Dogs infected with intestinal protozoa had lower levels of urea, total protein, albumin and globulin, as well as cholesterol. The level of bile acids remained within the normal range. All dogs included in the experiment, the ratio of protein / creatinine urine remained in the normal range. In 84% (37 animals) of the studied dogs with a confirmed protozoa, the level of vitamin B12 was reduced with a minimum value of 102ng / L. Among dogs with confirmed giardiosis, a decrease was observed in 73.7% (14 heads), with isosporosis in 88.8% (16 goals), and with combined invasion in 100% of animals, a decrease in vitamin B12 was noted.