Abstract
Changes of free cholesterol (F Ch) and phospholipid (Pl) collcentrations in the serum and the contents in the red cell membranes were investigated in the case of dirofilarial hemoglobinuria (Hb-uria) and compared with those in normal dogs and dogs suffering from chronic serious filariasis without Hb-emia and Hb-uria. There was a significant increase in serum F Ch concentration and in the Ch and Pl contents in the red cell membranes of the serious filariasis group, as compared with the normal one. Marked increases in the F Ch and Pl concentrations and F Ch/Pl ratio were found in the serum, the Ch content and Ch/Pl ratio in the red cell membranes in the Hb-uria group, as compared with the normal one. Also, as opposed to the serious filariasis group, serum F Ch concentration showed an appreciable rise, but the Ch/Pl ratio was insignificant in the red cell membranes. There were no significant findings as to the serum lipoprotein fractions in the Hb-uria or the normal group. In the Hb-uria group, however, the α-lipoprotein concentration and α/total β-ratio were significantly higher and the total β-lipoprotein concentration was significantly lower in the serum than in the serious filariasis group. There were significant correlations between the serum and red cell membranes as to F Ch concentration and Ch content, or Ch/Pl ratio, in the normal and whole groups, but not in the Hb-uria group. Both filariasis groups showed an appreciable increase in erythrocyte mechanical fragility, as compared with the normal group, and they displayed a lower minimum and higher maximum resistance to osmotic fragility than the normal group.
