• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.327-336
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• 1993

Present experiments were undertaken in order to clarify the effect of splenectomy on the hematology and marrow megakaryocyte picture and to know the genesis of postsplenectomy thrombocytosis in dogs. Six mongrel dogs weighing 8.5~18㎏ were used, of which three were splenectomized and the other three were laparotomized for comparison. Erythrocyte count, total and differential leukocyte counts, thrombocyte count and packed cell volume measurement were made using the blood samples. In addition, bone marrow samples obtained from the femur at 7th and 23rd day of the operation were examined for the number per low-power field, the diameter, and the distribution frequency of the megakaryocyte. From these experiments, following results were obtained : Erythrocyte count and packed cell volume showed significant decrease beginning on the 15th day of splenectomy. Total and differential leukocyte counts showed marked increase for the first 2 days of postsplenectomy. The thrombocyte count of splenectomized dogs increased from the 2nd day of the operation, reached to the peak count on the 15th day, and returned to the preoperation count by the 28th day. The megakaryocyte count per low-power field of the biopsied preparation increased in according to the increase in thrombocyte count. The megakaryocyte diameter of splenectomized dog showed no increase on the 7th or 23rd day of the operation. However, the distribution frequency of the larger megakaryocyte was higher in the splenectomized dogs than in the laparotomized dogs. The total plasma protein concentration showed no significant change after splenectomy or laparotomy. From these results, it may be concluded that the postsplenectomy thrombocytosis results from the increased megakaryocytopoesis or the activated thrombocytopoesis of the marrow megakaryocytes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.587-599
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• 2000

This study was conducted to observe the severity of the disease and pathogenecity of Babesia gibsoni parasite on the splenectomized dogs(SPD) and nonsplenectomized(intact) dogs (NSPD) experimentally infected with B gibsoni. The average prepatent period was 4 days in the SPD and 8 days in the NSPD, respectively. Peak parasitaemia(PE) ranged from 26% to 34% of erythrocytes infected in the SPD and from 4% to 5% in the NSPD. Latent parasitaemia was still detectable 40 days as low as under 1.0% of erythrocytes infected after the initial parasitaemia in the SPD. Blood packed cell volume(PCV) decreased to as little as 6.4% to 6.9% in the SPD. The clinical signs were mild fever and anemia in the NSPD, remissions and exacervations of temperature, intermittent or spike-like increases of temperature, progressive polychromatophilic macrocytic anemia with anisocytosis, icterus, marked loss of appetite, rarely haemoglobinuria, and deep brown-yellowish urine in the SPD. Gross pathologic changes mainly involved slightly enlargement of liver and spleen in the NSPD and marked enlargement of liver in the SPD. Anatomic changes associated with the disease included diffuse periportal and centrilobular hephatitis, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Hyaline droplets, resulting protein metabolic alterations, were found in the convoluted ephithelium of the kidney. The density of lymphocytes within the liver sinusoids was markedly increased. Aggregates of large monocytes and macrophages were demonstrated in the centrilobular veins of the liver. The density of these cells in the centrilobular veins were greatest in the SPD. The forms of B gibsoni parasite found in the acute stage of SPD were large signet ring form, small signet ring form, pyriform, elongated form, comma form, head-phone form, oval form, peared form, racket-like form, amoeboid form, triangle form, quartered form, dot form, band form and multiple, and rosette form, et al. The severity of the disease and pathogenecity of B gibsoni parasite were mild in the NSPD but fatal in the SPD.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.681-692
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• 1996

The present study was conducted to isolate Babesia gibsoni by culture method of the microaerophilous stationary phase(MASP) and analyse the antigenic properties of the parasite by SDS-PAGE and immunoblot. The results obtained were summarized as follows. The protozoan parasite Babesia gibsoni multiplied in canine erythrocytes in RPMI 1640 medium(pH7.0) containing 20 40% normal canine serum under the MASP condition of 5% CO2 and 95% air at $37^{\circ}C$ incubator. The levels of parasitaemia in the erythrocytes were shown more higher by exchanging the medium at 24 hours interval. Under the above condition of MASP, the percentage of parasitized erythrocytes(PPE) after incubation for 8 days increased about 14 times more than that in the initiation of the 1% infected canine erythrocyte culture. The parasites were purely isolated from the MASP culture of red blood cells collected from dogs infected with Babesia gibsoni naturally or artificially. Among the total of 36 canine(Pit-bullterier) blood samples the parasites were isolated from 17 cases(47.2%) in the MASP culture while the parasites were detected from 20 cases(56%) and 12 cases(33.3%), respectively, by indirect fluorescent antibody(IFA) test and direct light microscopy(DLM). On the other hand, Babesia gibsoni was isolated by MASP culture from 15 cases(75%) and 11 cases(92%) of positive cases of IFA and DLM, respectively. In the analysis of the erythrocytic merozoite(AEOM) antigen derived from infected dog approximately 11 antigenic bands in molecular weight of 130, 120, 97.4, 92, 80, 52, 50, 42, 36, 30 and 29 KDa were observed on SDS-PAGE. Antigenic bands in the endoerythrocytic merozoite(CEOM) antigen derived from infected erythrocyte (sediment) in MASP culture were much similar to those of AEOM bands. In the exoerythrocytic merozoite(CEEM) antigen derived from supernatant of the infected erythrocyte culture approximately 20 antigenic bands were observed and the molecular weight of the major bands among these were 140, 120, 114, 105, 96, 93, 92, 80, 60, 52, 50, 38, 36, 30, 24, 18.5 and 16 KDa. In the protein patterns of AEOM and CEOM antigen by immunoblot 15 bands were observed and these patterns were much similar between each other. The molecular weight of the major bands in the both antigens were 130, 120, 80, 60, 52, 50, 42, 30, 29, 18.5 and 16 KDa. Approximately 21 bands were observed in CEEM antigen and the molecular weight of the major bands were 140, 120, 96, 92, 85, 80, 76, 60, 52, 50, 37, 30, 24, 16 and 15 KDa. The specific antigenic bands in the artificially infected dogs were firstly observed at 3 weeks afrer inoculation of infected blood and these antigenic bands were maintained up to 18 months after inoculation. In the immunoblot of the sera of the splenectomized dogs the specific antigenic bands with the molecular weight of 93 KDa and 52 KDa, respectively, were observed weakly comparing to those of non-splenectomized dog. In immunoblot of the sera collected from the naturally infected dogs the antigenic bands were observed as same as those of artificially infected dogs while antigenic band of 29 KDa in some individual dog showed strongly. In comparison of immunoblot of the sera collected from dogs non-treated and treated with diminazene aceturate(7mg/kg, IM) after artificial infection no differences of antigenic bands were observed. In analysis of antigenic bands by digoxigenin glycan/protein double labeling, antigenic bands in the molecular weight of 106, 60 58, 36, 30 and 29 KDa were determined as glycoproteins.