Hematological Profile and Aminotransferase Activity in Kintamani Bali Puppies Injected with High Doses of Ivermectin

Abstract

Pr Ivermectin toxicity is known to cause harmful side effects or even death in dogs intolerant to the medication. Intolerant dogs have a mutation in the MDR-1 (Multi-Drug Resistance) gene, so they lack the P-glycoprotein gene that removes drugs from the brain. Therefore, this study aimed to determine ivermectin toxicity in Kintamani Bali puppies by examining physiological responses based on hematological profiles and aminotransferase activity after a high-dose injection. A laboratory observational approach was used, and the samples were 25 healthy female Kintamani puppies based on a veterinary examination, aged 3-6 months, weighing 6.32 ± 1.18 kg, randomly divided equally into five treatment groups. The treatments included a placebo (1ml Aqua Pro Injection) as a control, as well as a single dose of ivermectin injection sequentially 200, 400, 800, and 1600 µg/kg subcutaneously. Blood samples were collected before treatment and after 7 and 14 days post-treatment. The hematologic parameters observed included levels of hemoglobin, erythrocytes, hematocrit, total leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils, as well as blood biochemistry, namely aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities. Observation results after 4 hours of administration of ivermectin at doses of 800 and 1600 µg/kg of puppies showed changes in behavior, restlessness, depression, tremors, mydriasis, hypersalivation, anorexia, and polydipsia. Meanwhile, the results of hematological examination on the seventh day after ivermectin treatment showed a trend of erythropenia, leukocytosis, a decrease in hemoglobin levels, and an increase in aminotransferase enzyme activity. This condition continued until day 14, but the physiological parameter values showed that the puppy’s condition gradually improved compared to the seventh day after treatment. There were significant differences in the blood profile, AST, and ALT of Kintamani puppies injected with ivermectin at doses of 800 and 1,600 ug/kg compared to controls on days 7 and 14 after and before treatment. It was concluded that high-dose ivermectin injections in Kintamani Bali puppies caused toxicity with clinical signs of erythropenia, decreased hemoglobin, leukocytosis, and increased aminotransferase activity.