Pesq. Vet. Bras. 31(1): 72-77, janeiro 2011 RESUMO.-A leishmaniose visceral (LV) é uma zoonose causada pelo protozoário Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi. A leishmaniose visceral canina (LVC) é a doença de maior relevância zoonótica. Usualmente, a infecção ocorre entre um hospedeiro invertebrado para um hospedeiro vertebrado, entretanto, a transmissão na ausência do vetor já é conhecida. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi identificar a presença de formas amastigotas, quantificar as células leucocitárias, estimar o risco relativo da presença de formas amastigotas no aparelho reprodutivo de cães sorologicamente positivos com e sem sinais clínicos. Para isso, foram utilizados cães sem raça definida, sexualmente maduros e testados sorologicamente para LVC (com sinais clínicos, n=25; sem sinais clínicos, n=25), que após eutanásia, tiveram fragmentos de testículo, epidídimo (cabeça, corpo e cauda) e glândula prostática (selecionados Canine visceral leishmaniasis (VLC) is most important. The infection occurs usually betweenthe invertebrate host and vertebrate host; however, transmission in the absence of the vector has been reported. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of amastigote forms, quantify the leucocyte cells and to estimate the presence (odds ratio) of the amastigotes in the reproductive tract of dogs serologically positive with and without clinical signs. Sexually mature Mongrel dogs, serologically tested to VLC (symptomatic, n=25; asymptomatic, n=25), were used. After euthanasia, testes, epidydimal (caput, corpus and cauda) and prostate gland fragments (randomized) were recovered and impressed on slides. Twenty animals serologically negative and asymptomatic were used as control group. Samples of spleen were included as parasitological positive controls. Lymphocyte percentages were higher (P<0.05) in the corpus and caudal region of epididymis, similar to the testes in the symptomatic group. Macrophage percentage was higher (P<0.05) in the corpus and caudal epididymis regions. The presence of amastigote forms was associated with different regions of the reproductive tract. In the symptomatic group, the variation was between 0.50 and 0.80, and in the symptomatic between 0.79 and 0.95. The odds ratio for amastigote forms in the testicle of the symptomatic dogs was 6.5 in relation to asymptomatic dogs. The results demonstrate the epidemic potential of venereal transmission of the disease, specifically in areas where control programs of VLC do not consider this transmission route.

In order to determine the analgesic and cardiovascular effects of the combination of epidural ketamine and lidocaine, 6 sedated cats were studied. Six healthy, young cats were used in a prospective randomised study. Each cat underwent 3 treatments, at least 1 week apart, via epidural injection: (1) ketamine (2.5 mg/kg), (2) lidocaine (4.0 mg/kg), and (3) ketamine (2.5 mg/kg) plus lidocaine (4.0 mg/kg). Epidural injections were administered through the lumbosacral space. Analgesia, motor block, sedation, heart rate, arterial blood pressure, respiratory rate and arterial oxygen saturation were measured. Rectal temperature was compared before and after sedation as well as after epidural administration of the drugs. Epidural administration of the ketamine/lidocaine combination induced prolonged analgesia extending from the coccygeal to the T13-L1 dermatomes, leading to severe ataxia. Cardiovascular effects were significant in all treatments: heart rate decreased, but there was a minimal reduction in arterial pressure. It was concluded that adding a dose of ketamine to epidural lidocaine in cats is feasible and effective

Dogs are considered the main domestic host of Leishmania infantum. The transmission between vertebrate hosts normally occurs during blood feeding of Lutzomyia sp., a genus of phlebotomine sand flies. However, other forms of transmission without a vector have been reported. Presence of amastigotes of Leishmania sp. in different organs can cause several pathologies depending on the immune status of the host and the parasite load. The aim of this study was to evaluate histopathological changes in the reproductive tract of male dogs. Samples of testes, epididymis, and prostate gland were collected from 70 animals that were grouped according to serology test results for visceral leishmaniasis and clinical symptoms. Three experimental groups were formed based on serological results and clinical presentation: asymptomatic, symptomatic and control. Prostatic changes were seen regardless of the serological results; however, the changes were more severe in symptomatic animals. In the testes and epididymis, lesions such as interstitial infiltrate, degeneration, and fibrosis were seen more frequently and were more severe in positive animals when compared to the control group. These results demonstrate that dogs infected with Leishmania sp. can develop nonspecific changes in the reproductive tract, which are more severe in symptomatic animals. ResumoOs cães são considerados os principais hospedeiros domésticos de Leishmania infantum. A transmissão entre hospedeiros vertebrados normalmente ocorre durante o repasto sanguíneo de Lutzomyia sp., gênero de flebotomíneo. Entretanto, outras formas de transmissão sem a presença do vetor têm sido relatadas. A presença de amastigotas de Leishmania sp. em diferentes órgãos pode causar diversas patologias de acordo com o status imune do hospedeiro e a carga parasitária. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as alterações histopatológicas no trato reprodutivo de cães machos. Amostras de testículo, epidídimo e próstata foram coletadas de 70 animais, os quais foram agrupados conforme o resultado da sorologia para leishmaniose visceral e os sinais clínicos. Três grupos experimentais foram formados baseados nos resultados sorológicos e manifestações clínicas: assintomático, sintomático e controle. Alterações prostáticas foram observadas independentemente dos resultados sorológicos; entretanto, foram mais acentuadas nos animais sintomáticos. Nos testículos e epidídimos, lesões como infiltrado intersticial, degeneração e fibrose foram observadas mais frequentemente e de forma mais severa nos animais positivos quando comparados ao grupo controle. Estes resultados demonstram que cães infectados com Leishmania sp. podem desenvolver alterações não específicas no trato reprodutivo, as quais são mais severas nos animais sintomáticos. Palavras-chave: Amastigotas. Epidídimo. Leishmania sp. Próstata. Testículo.