Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a cosmopolitan parasitic zoonosis that can promote myocarditis and heart rate changes in canine and human hosts. Thus, histopathological aspects of the myocardium and clinical, hematological, biochemical, radiological and electrocardiographic data were evaluated in a group of 36 dogs naturally infected with VL (VLG) and compared to data from 15 non-infected dogs (CG=Control Group). A prevalence of asymptomatic dogs was present in the CG (100%) and polysymptomatic dogs in the VLG (66%). In addition, two dogs in the VLG demonstrated systolic murmurs in the mitral valve region: one with a II/VI intensity and the other with a III/VI intensity. The mean values of RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit were lower in dogs in VLG and were associated with higher values of total protein, total leukocytes, neutrophils, creatine kinase overall (CK) and the CK-MB fraction (CK-MB). The absence of radiographic changes was accompanied by a predominance of respiratory sinus arrhythmia associated with episodes of migratory pacemaker and sinus arrest in dogs in VLG (75%), sinus rhythm in dogs in CG (60%) and decreased P wave amplitude in VLG electrocardiography. Mononuclear cell infiltration was detected in the myocardium of 77,8% of dogs in GVL and classified primarily as mild multifocal lymphohistioplasmacytic. Amastigotes were detected in only one dog, which did not allow the association between myocarditis and parasitism, although the myocardial lesions that were found constitute irrefutable evidence of myocarditis in the VLG dogs, accompanied by lenient electrocardiographic changes compared to CG. Keywords: Electrocardiography, Leishmania sp., visceral leishmaniasis, dogs RESUMO A leishmaniose visceral (LV) é uma zoonose parasitária cosmopolita capaz de promover miocardite e alterações no ritmo cardíaco em cães e seres humanos. Dessa forma, os aspectos clínicos, hematimétricos, bioquímicos, radiográficos, eletrocardiográficos e histopatológicos do miocárdio foram avaliados em 36 cães naturalmente infectados com LV (GLV) e comparados a 15 cães não infectados (GC). Houve predomínio de cães assintomáticos no GC (100%) e polissintomáticos no GLV (66%). Dois cães do GLV apresentaram sopro sistólico de intensidade II/VI e III/VI, em região de foco mitral. Os valores médios de hemácia, hemoglobina e hematócrito foram inferiores nos cães do GLV, associados a maiores valores de proteína total, leucócitos totais, neutrófilos, creatinina quinase total (CK) e fração MB (CK-MB

The present study has the objective of evaluating the effects of exercise training, using moderate intensity walking (60 to 80% of maximum heart rate), from 30 to 50 minutes, three times a week, in alternate days, during eight weeks, on heart rate variability in dogs with myxomatous valve disease (MVD). For that, 20 dogs in stages B1 (1), B2 (14) and C2 (5) of MVD (ACVIM classification) were divided into untrained control group (CG, n=9) and training group (TG, n=11), and assessed at baseline (T0), after four (T1) and eight weeks (T2). Only one B1 and five B2 dogs completed the training program. In the time domain, the rMSSD was greater in TG in T1 (155,5+42,07) and T2 (199,8+83,54) than CG (T1:91,17+35,79 and T2:88,17+57,51). In the frequency domain, the variable High Frequency (HF) increased in TG in T1 (30950+25810) and T2 (40300+33870) when compared to the CG (T1:19090+23210 and T2:18810+22200) and within the group TG in T2 in relation to T0 (29340+20950). The proposed walking protocol is concluded to have increased the rMSSD and HF variables in TG, representing an increase of the parasympathetic tonus, justifying the indication of this therapy in B1 and B2 stages of MVD.

RESUMO.-A eletrocardiografia constitui ferramenta indispensável no diagnóstico de arritmias e distúrbios de condução elétrica do coração de equinos, bem como na determinação do prognóstico de cardiopatias, do desempenho atlético, da eficiência do treinamento, além de sugerir distúrbios eletrolíticos. No entanto, as variáveis eletrocardiográficas em equinos podem sofrer influência de diversos fatores como a idade, sexo, raça e constituição morfofuncional, dentre outas, tornando-se necessário conhecer as características de normalidade para as diferentes raças e fases do desenvolvimento. Descendentes dos cavalos da Península Ibérica, a raça Crioula foi trazida ao continente americano há mais de quatro séculos, resultando em características físicas e de resistência únicas, dada por sua seleção natural. Desta forma, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar e comparar os aspectos eletrocardiográficos The electrocardiography is an indispensable diagnostic tool to detect heart arrhythmias and electrical conductions disturbances in equines, as well as on prognosis determination of heart diseases, athletical performance, efficiency of training, and on electrolytic disturbance evaluation. However, electrocardiographic variables can be influenced by several factors such as age, gender, breed and phenotypic characteristics. Therefore the establishment of the characteristics of normality for different breed and phases of development is fundamental. Creole breed were firstly introduced to the American continent more than four centuries ago and it descends from horses of Iberian Peninsula. The breed is a result of natural selection that configured resistance and unique physical attributes.The present study aimed to analyze and compare the electrocardiographic parameters of Creole females in different ages, and verify the possibly influence of pregnancy on it. Digital electrocardiographic evaluation on apex-base lead was performed on 84 healthy creole mares (34 pregnant and 50 non-pregnant). The electrocardiograms were divided in groups concerning the age as G1 (until 4 years old), G2 (from 5 to 9 years old) and G3 (over 10 years old). No physiological or pathological heart arrhythmias and electrical conduction disturbances were seen in all examined mares. Sinus tachycardia , bifid P waves, rS configuration of QRS and biphasic T waves were the predominant patterns in all evaluated groups. Only the average of QRS duration of G1 females was significant superior (110,65±8,49) (p=0,0002) when compared with G2 (101,98±10,02) and G3 (100,92±10,72). The autonomic variables (ITV, average NN and SDNN) were lower in pregnant mares comparing to non-pregnant mares, suggesting a greater sympathetic autonomic system tonus and/or decrease of parasympathetic tonus on pregnant mares. In conclusion, the age affect only the QRS duration, and the pregnant condition was capable to decrease the time domain heart rate variability indexes with maybe influence the electrocardiographic evaluation of enrolled Creole mares.INDEX TERMS: Electrocardiogra...

The aim of this study was to verify the feasibility of synovial fl uid (SF) analysis for the parasitological diagnosis of leishmaniasis in naturally infected dogs. Aseptic arthrocentesis of the tarsal and carpal joints of 40 infected dogs (158