Morphological criteria for identifying coronavirus infection in companion animals

Abstract

Due to the high level of urbanisation in Ukraine, during the years 2021-2023, there is a tendency for a rapid increase in the number of companion animals in large cities – dogs and cats. Humanity has not yet finally eliminated the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic, as world scientists have established the involvement of these animals in its spread, which causes concern among specialists and requires a comprehensive investigation. The purpose of the scientific study was to determine marker changes in haematological parameters and haematopoiesis parameters under the influence of coronavirus infection in dogs and cats. For this purpose, spectrophotometric and refractometric methods of haematological studies were used: morphological and biochemical parameters of blood, the functional state of erythro- and leukocytopoiesis. Considering changes in blood morphological parameters, the main parameters of the identity of the pathogenic effect of coronavirus on the body of dogs and cats were established, namely: a decrease in the number of lymphocytes, glucose content, and protein coefficient. There was a significant increase in the activity of alkaline phosphatase in the blood and α-amylase, the content of total bilirubin, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In particular, it has been experimentally established that the use of leukocyte indices increases the information content of the general blood test for coronavirus infection, and additional analysis of integral changes based on leukocyte blood parameters allows determining not only the state of reactivity of the body, but also the extent of endogenous intoxication. The results of changes in blood morphological parameters are somewhat comparable to those in humans, which indicates the need for an in-depth study of the genetic potential of coronavirus pathogens in companion animals and humans at the molecular and biological levels. Experimentally determined marker changes in haematological parameters for coronavirus infection in dogs and cats can be useful for its timely diagnosis and prediction of the severity of the disease