Aspectos epidemiológicos e de hemostasia na Leishmaniose visceral canina

Abstract

In Brazil, Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL) represents a serious problem in veterinary medicine, especially where the disease has association with the urbanization of the cities. Dogs still the major reservoir host and may presents a great diversity of clinical signs, including skin lesions, nutritional disorders, enlargement of lymph nodes and onycogryphosis. The purpose of this study was not only to estimate the prevalence and the spatial distribution of CVL but also verify the clinical signs in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis from Maceio city, Alagoas State and evaluate the plasma fibrinogen levels and prothrombin time (PT) in dogs infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi examinated in the Veterinarian Hospital of the Rural Federal University of Pernambuco. A total of 425 domiciliated dogs were investigated to anti-Leishmania sp antibodies by ELISA test, and evaluate to clinical signs related to CVL. Using the spatial information system such as global positioning system the data was plotted according of seropositive dogs. The results showed 1.9% (08/425) animals were positive to serological test, being the Benedito Bentes (6.7%), Petrópolis (6.7%) and Ipioca (6.3%) the major endemic areas, which belongs tosanitary districts VI, IV and I respectively. Skin lesions and weight loss were the major symptoms observed in 75% of positive dogs. The other seropositive dogs showed no clinical signs of CVL. On the other hand, plasma samples of 31 dogs were used to evaluate the plasma fibrinogen levels and PT. It was observed changes in fibrinogen level of 45.4% (10/22) and 95.4% (21/22) of PT in infected group (IG). However no statically significant difference (p<0.05) between IG and GC were observed. In conclusion, as the studied city is an endemic region of canine kala-azar, and dogs from endemic areas must be carefully evaluated to clinical signs and for the presence of antibodies anti-Leishmania sp in order to prevent the spread of the disease. The evaluation of plasma fibrinogen levels and PT showed no diagnostic value in the CVL.