Therapeutic efficacy of Oral Carica papaya leaf juice extract in the supportive care of infectious thrombocytopenia in bleeding dogs.

Abstract

Abstract Background: In rural India, oral Carica papaya leaf extract juice (CPLE) has been used to control bleeding and recover platelet counts in human patients with dengue fever, and few reports of successful outcomes have been published. Hypothesis: CPLE juice oral dosing has thrombopietic properties that significantly increase platelet counts in thrombocytopenic dogs with bleeding tendencies. Animals: Ninetythrombocytopenic dogs with ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and/or leptospirosis referred to Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital were studied. Methods: During a one-year period, 90 thrombocytopenic dogs with ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and/or leptospirosis with mild thrombocytopenia (platelets 50,000-100,000/µl) to severe thrombocytopenia (platelets less than 25,000µl) with bleeding were studied. ... In addition, coagulation profiles, buccal mucosal bleeding times, saline agglutination tests, spherocyte studies, direct Coombs’ (Direct Antiglobin) tests, Von Willebrand Factor assays, Platelet-associated antibody (PSAb) assays, bone marrow aspiration cytology, and DEA 1 typing were determined. Platelet-rich plasma or fresh whole blood wastransfused in casesof severe (platelets <20,000 cells/µl) thrombocytopenia and/or anemia, and all dogs received doxycycline and prednisone. CPLE was administered at 5 ml per 10 kg body weight for 3 weeks. Results: Dogs with Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis and Leptospirosis with clinical bleeding signs with mild thrombocytopenia (50,000 – 100,000 platelets/cmm) responded well to oral administration of Carica papaya leaf extract 5 ml per 10 kg b.wt + doxycycline @ 10 mg/kg b.wts.i.d orally + prednisolone @ 1 mg/kg b.wt once a day tapering dose orally for 3 weeks. Clinical trials with Caricapapaya leaf extract confirmed an increase in the platelet counts from day two, and they were on a significantly increasing trend up to day seven, proving the thrombopoietic properties of CPLE juice in dogs. Conclusion: CPLE may be an inexpensive supplement to more rapidly control thrombocytopenia and bleeding in dogs with hemoprotozoan diseases along with specific therapies and transfusion.