Investigation of serum acute-phase protein levels and hematological and biochemical parameters in dogs with generalized demodicosis

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute-phase proteins and routine hematologic and biochemical parameters on the systemic inflammatory response and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and to examine the correlations among these parameters in dogs with Demodex canis infestation. Dogs with Demodex canis infestation exhibit a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), marked by increased acute-phase proteins (C-Reactive Protein, procalcitonin, haptoglobin) and decreased albumin, which may serve as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. For this purpose, 30 dogs of different breeds aged between 9 months and 3 years were used. The dogs were divided into two groups: 10 healthy dogs as the control group and 20 dogs diagnosed with Demodex canis infestation as the disease group. Routine hemogram and biochemistry parameters and acute-phase reactant levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, haptoglobin, albumin and bilirubin were determined. The groups were compared statistically, and the relationships between the parameters were determined via correlation analysis. Leukocyte (WBC), neutrophil (Neu), lymphocyte (Lym) and monocyte (Mon) levels were significantly higher in dogs with demodicosis than in healthy dogs. CRP (29.40 ± 7.06 mg/L vs. 15.60 ± 5.58 mg/L, p < 0.001), procalcitonin (0.026 ± 0.01 µg/L vs. 0.02 ± 0.01 µg/L, p = 0.032) and haptoglobin (1.51 ± 0.19 g/L vs. 0.70 ± 0.23 g/L, p < 0.001) were higher in demodex-infested dogs than in healthy dogs. However, the albumin level was lower in infested dogs than in control dogs (23.45 ± 4.91 g/L vs. 30.99 ± 2.24 g/L, p < 0.001). Demodex canis infestation triggers systemic inflammation in dogs, with acute-phase proteins closely linked to liver function markers. Procalcitonin, haptoglobin, CRP, and albumin may suggest that these parameters may have potential as biomarkers for evaluating inflammation in dogs with demodicosis and its associated inflammation, highlighting their importance in disease management.