E-ISSN 2218-6050 | ISSN 2226-4485
 

Research Article


Evaluation of the dog population in two Italian shelters in Central Italy (Marche region) as potential blood donors

Martina Quagliardi, Giacomo Rossi, Matteo Cerquetella, Alessandra Roncarati, Livio Galosi, Sara Mangiaterra, Alessandra Gavazza.


Abstract
Background:
In recent years, the field of transfusion medicine for dogs has advanced significantly, becoming a crucial aspect of veterinary clinical practice. Nowadays, blood still remains a fundamental biological source and the welfare and health status of eligible species-specific blood donors are essential for veterinary transfusion medicine.
Aim:
This study focused on evaluating two shelters in Central Italy (Marche region), located in Tolentino (TS) and in Camerino (CS), in order to assess the potential of the shelter dogs as canine blood donors.
Methods:
We evaluated a total of 45 dogs from these shelters based on physical (age and size), clinical, behavioural, and blood analysis criteria described in the Italian Ministerial Guideline for Veterinary Transfusion Medicine (2016).
Results:
At the TS shelter, out of 206 resident dogs, 125 met the donation criteria (60.68%), with 28 (13.59%) selected for the study due to the impossibility to collect the samplings or other exclusion causes. In the CS shelter, of the 149 dogs, 17 (11.41%) were identified as potential blood donors and included in the study. Among these, seven dogs (25%) from TS and five dogs (29.41%) from CS were found to have DEA1 negative blood group. High percentages (TS = 25.24%, CS = 40.27%) of dogs were excluded for seniority and 29.53% in CS for behavioural issues. Notable f indings included reduced erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume [mean TS = 63.93 fl; CS = 64.00 fl] and Reticulocyte Hemoglobin [mean TS = 22.39 pg; CS = 21.38 pg]. Additionally, in both shelters’ dogs showed a modest increase in eosinophils levels [mean TS = 1.59 K/μl; CS = 1.02 K/μl].
Conclusion:
Shelter dogs can fulfill the blood donation requirements set by the Italian Ministerial Guideline on Veterinary Transfusion Medicine. They are generally in good health and present a low risk of transmitting parasitic diseases; however, many are ineligible for donation due to behavioural pathologies or temperament issues and seniority.

Key words: Dog, Transfusion medicine, Guideline, Blood donor, Shelter


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Quagliardi M, Rossi G, Cerquetella M, Roncarati A, Galosi L, Mangiaterra S, Gavazza A. Evaluation of the dog population in two Italian shelters in Central Italy (Marche region) as potential blood donors. Open Vet J. 2024; 14(8): 1779-1788. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i8.5


Web Style

Quagliardi M, Rossi G, Cerquetella M, Roncarati A, Galosi L, Mangiaterra S, Gavazza A. Evaluation of the dog population in two Italian shelters in Central Italy (Marche region) as potential blood donors. https://www.openveterinaryjournal.com/?mno=181417 [Access: October 04, 2024]. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i8.5


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Quagliardi M, Rossi G, Cerquetella M, Roncarati A, Galosi L, Mangiaterra S, Gavazza A. Evaluation of the dog population in two Italian shelters in Central Italy (Marche region) as potential blood donors. Open Vet J. 2024; 14(8): 1779-1788. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i8.5



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Quagliardi M, Rossi G, Cerquetella M, Roncarati A, Galosi L, Mangiaterra S, Gavazza A. Evaluation of the dog population in two Italian shelters in Central Italy (Marche region) as potential blood donors. Open Vet J. (2024), [cited October 04, 2024]; 14(8): 1779-1788. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i8.5



Harvard Style

Quagliardi, M., Rossi, . G., Cerquetella, . M., Roncarati, . A., Galosi, . L., Mangiaterra, . S. & Gavazza, . A. (2024) Evaluation of the dog population in two Italian shelters in Central Italy (Marche region) as potential blood donors. Open Vet J, 14 (8), 1779-1788. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i8.5



Turabian Style

Quagliardi, Martina, Giacomo Rossi, Matteo Cerquetella, Alessandra Roncarati, Livio Galosi, Sara Mangiaterra, and Alessandra Gavazza. 2024. Evaluation of the dog population in two Italian shelters in Central Italy (Marche region) as potential blood donors. Open Veterinary Journal, 14 (8), 1779-1788. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i8.5



Chicago Style

Quagliardi, Martina, Giacomo Rossi, Matteo Cerquetella, Alessandra Roncarati, Livio Galosi, Sara Mangiaterra, and Alessandra Gavazza. "Evaluation of the dog population in two Italian shelters in Central Italy (Marche region) as potential blood donors." Open Veterinary Journal 14 (2024), 1779-1788. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i8.5



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Quagliardi, Martina, Giacomo Rossi, Matteo Cerquetella, Alessandra Roncarati, Livio Galosi, Sara Mangiaterra, and Alessandra Gavazza. "Evaluation of the dog population in two Italian shelters in Central Italy (Marche region) as potential blood donors." Open Veterinary Journal 14.8 (2024), 1779-1788. Print. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i8.5



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Quagliardi, M., Rossi, . G., Cerquetella, . M., Roncarati, . A., Galosi, . L., Mangiaterra, . S. & Gavazza, . A. (2024) Evaluation of the dog population in two Italian shelters in Central Italy (Marche region) as potential blood donors. Open Veterinary Journal, 14 (8), 1779-1788. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i8.5