Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in heartworm naturally infected dogs "with or without" Leishmania infantum seropositivity: an observational prospective study

Canine heartworm disease by and canine leishmaniosis by (CanL) are both vector-borne diseases with frequently overlapping endemicity and able to trigger the acute phase response, being characterized by variations in acute phase proteins (APP). Recently, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), an indicator of inflammation, has gained attention in veterinary medicine, proving useful in several conditions that include CanL active forms in dogs. This study aims to evaluate ESR in heartworm-infected dogs, compare levels with heartworm-infected and seropositive dogs as well as clinically healthy dogs, and assess correlations with other laboratory parameters. From October 2022 to January 2023, a prospective observational study was conducted enrolling heartworm-infected ( group) and heartworm-infected seropositive ( / group) animals subgrouped according to the CanL clinical form ( / active and non-active groups). A group of clinically healthy dogs (control group) was also included. For each dog enrolled physical examination and laboratory tests (complete blood count, biochemical panel including APP, serum protein electrophoresis) were performed. and / groups presented a significantly higher ESR level compared to healthy dogs. / active group had the highest ESR level among the groups considered. / a non-active group had an ESR similar to the group, but significantly higher and lower compared to the control and the / active group, respectively. A significant positive correlation between ESR and C-Reactive Protein has been found in all groups except for the / non-active group. In / active group a strong positive correlation between ESR and gamma globulins percentage as well as a strong negative correlation between ESR and albumin, albumin/globulins ratio were found. Overall, the ESR was confirmed to be an inflammation marker as well as a helpful disease index, being notably increased in heartworm-infected dogs affected by an active form of CanL.