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This study aimed to characterize ocular diseases in dogs naturally affected by visceral leishmaniasis in Teresina, Piauí State, Brazil. The diagnosis was made using parasitological exams of the bone-marrow and lymph-node samples. The main ophthalmological findings were uveitis, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, keratitis, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Normocytic normochromic anemia was the main hematological finding, followed by thrombocytopenia. Plasma proteins were also considered, and hyperproteinemia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and hypoalbuminemia were observed. Ocular histopathological examination revealed mild inflammation involving lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages. Results indicate the need to perform a differential diagnosis to rule out or establish the presence of Leishmania sp. in dogs presenting with ophthalmic lesions in endemic regions.

SUMMARYThis study investigated the sero-conversion period in which dogs from endemic areas test positive for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) as well as the early post-infection period in which renal alterations are observed. Dogs that were initially negative for Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL) were clinically evaluated every three months by serological, parasitological and biochemical tests until seroconversion was confirmed, and six months later a subsequent evaluation was performed. Samples of kidney tissues were processed and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) and Masson's trichrome stain and lesions were classified based on the WHO criteria. Of the 40 dogs that initially tested negative for VL, 25 (62.5%) exhibited positive serological tests during the study period. Of these 25 dogs, 15 (60%) tested positive within three months, five (20%) tested positive within six months and five (20%) tested positive within nine months. The dogs exhibited antibody titers between 1:40 and 1:80 and 72% of the dogs exhibited clinical symptoms. The Leishmania antigen was present in the kidneys of recently infected dogs. We found higher levels of total protein and globulin as well as lower levels of albumin in the infected dogs when compared to the control dogs. Additionally, infected dogs presented levels of urea and creatinine that were higher than those of the uninfected dogs. Glomerulonephritis was detected in some of the dogs examined in this study. These data suggest that in Teresina, the sero-conversion for VL occurs quickly and showed that the infected dogs presented abnormal serum proteins, as well as structural and functional alterations in the kidneys during the early post-infection period.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the testicular changes and detect the presence of Leishmania sp. in the testicles and semen of dogs with Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). The animals were obtained from the Zoonoses Control Department of Teresina, PI, and taken to the kennel of the Agricultural Sciences Center of the Federal University of Piauí, where they remained were maintained for two months and subsequently euthanized for testicles removal. Semen samples were collected from 12 dogs, 06 positive and 06 negative for VL. The following diagnostic techniques readouts were assessed for the sampled animals: testosterone dosage, immunohistochemistry (IMH), histopathology of the slides containing the testicular material, and seminal evaluation by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Testosterone values remained within the normal range for the canine specie and did not differ statistically among the experimental groups but displayed lower serum concentrations than those of the control group. All the testicular and semen samples from the dogs were negative for VL as determined by techniques IMH and PCR, respectively. The results of testicle histopathology revealed the presence of several lesions with statistical difference among the experimental groups. Parasitized dogs with VL have testicular lesions that may compromise the reproductive efficiency of these animals.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a zoonosis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantumchagasi in the American continent. There are few studies detailing the immunopathological characteristics in lymph nodes and liver in infected dogs in endemic area from Teresina city, Piauí State, Brazil. Thus, we have evaluated histopathological changes and the presence of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in popliteal lymph nodes and liver of nine dogs with clinical manifestation (G1) and seven dogs without clinical manifestation (G2) naturally infected with L. (L.) infantumchagasi. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis were performed on samples liver and lymph nodes tissues. The important clinical changes were lymphadenopathy (80%) and skin lesions (70%). Histopathological analysis of the popliteal lymph node revealed higher depletion cell of the paracortical region. The number of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells was no significant between the groups but there was positive correlation between CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in G1 and G2. In the liver, the inflammatory infiltrate was focal consisting of mononuclear cell in the periportal and intralobular regions, in both groups. Inflammatory infiltrate of mononuclear cells showed positive staining for CD4 and CD8 T cells but there was no significant difference between groups. However, there was a positive correlation between CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the G1. Immunoperoxidase analysis also revealed more amastigotes and antigen of Leishmania in G1 in liver and lymph nodes than in G2. The role of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells seems is not related to the clinical status of dogs with CVL.Keywords: Leishmania, canine, CD4, CD8.Resumo: Leishmaniose visceral canina (LVC) é uma zoonose causada por Leishmania (Leishmania) infantumchagasino continente Americano. Poucos estudos demonstraram as características imunopatológicas em linfonodo poplíteo e fígado de cães infectados em área endêmica de Teresina, Piauí, Brasil. Assim, nós avaliamos as alterações histopatológicas e a presença de células T CD4 + e CD8 + em linfonodo poplíteo e fígado de nove cães com manifestações clínicas (G1) e sete cães sem manifestações clínicas (G2) 158 -173, abr -jun (2016) 159 obtidos para análise histopatológica e imunoistoquímica. As principais manifestações clínicas foram linfadenopatia (80%) e lesões de pele (70%). Na análise histopatológica do linfonodo foi observada uma depleção de células da região cortical. Não havia diferença significante entre os grupos entre células T CD4 + e CD8 + mas havia uma correlação positiva entre essas células em G1 e G2. No fígado, o infiltrado inflamatório era focal consistindo de células mononucleares nas regiões periportal e intralobular, em ambos os grupos. O infiltrado inflamatório era positivo na imunomarcação para células T CD4 e CD8, mas sem diferença significante entre os grupos. Entretanto, havia uma correlação positiva entre as células T CD4 + e CD8 + no G1. Na análise da imunomarcação também mostrou mais amastigotas e antígenos de Leishmania no fígado e li...

RESUMO.-[O papel das células alveolares tipo II na leptospirose suína.] Setenta e três suínos adultos de criação extensiva, abatidos em Teresina, no estado do Piauí e Timon, no estado do Maranhão, constituíram o grupo de estudo. O diagnóstico da leptospirose foi realizado utilizando a técnica de soroaglutinação microscópica (MAT), auxiliada por imunoistoquímica e reação em cadeia pela polimerase. A SAM registrou a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-leptospiras em 10,96% (8/73) dos suínos. A imunoistoquímica permitiu a visualização de antígenos de Leptospira spp. em pulmões de 87,67% (64/73) dos suínos. Havia hiperplasia do tecido linfoide associado ao brônquio e alterações circulatórias como, congestão do septo alveolar, hemorragia parenquimatosa e edema no interior de alvéolos. Os focos de inflamações pulmonares eram mais numerosos (p=0,0312) nos animais infectados, bem como o espessamento do septo alveolar (p=0,0006). A quantificação de células alveolares tipo II marcadas pelo anticorpo anti-TTF-1 (Thyroid This study aimed to investigate a possible relationship between alveolar type II cells and the inflammatory response to infection with Leptospira spp., and thus comprise a further element that can be involved in the pathogenesis of lung injury in naturally infected pigs. The study group consisted of 73 adult pigs that were extensively reared and slaughtered in Teresina, Piauí state, and Timon, Maranhão state, Brazil. The diagnosis of leptospirosis was made using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) aided by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction. The MAT registered the occurrence of anti-Leptospira antibodies in 10.96% (8/73) of the pigs. Immunohistochemistry allowed for the visualization of the Leptospira spp. antigen in the lungs of 87.67% (64/73) of the pigs. There was hyperplasia of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue and circulatory changes, such as congestion of alveolar septa, parenchymal hemorrhage and edema within the alveoli. Lung inflammation was more intense (p = 0.0312) in infected animals, which also showed increased thickening of the alveolar septa (p = 0.0006). Evaluation of alveolar type II (ATII) cells using an anti-TTF-1 (Thyroid Transcription Factor-1) antibody showed that there were more immunostained cells in the non-infected pigs (53.8%) than in the infected animals (46.2%) and that there was an inverse correlation between TTF-1 positive cells and the inflammatory infiltrate. There was no amplification of Leptospira DNA in the lung samples, but leptospiral DNA amplification was observed in the kidneys. The results of this study showed that a relationship exists between a decrease in alveolar type II cells and a leptospire infection. Thus, this work points to the importance of studying the ATII cells as a potential marker of the level of lung innate immune response during leptospirosis in pigs. Transcription Factor-1) mostrou que existia mais células imunocoradas em suínos não infectados (53,8%) comparados aos infectados (46,2%) e uma correlação inversa em relação ao infiltr...

Cellular immune response in popliteal lymph nodes and liver of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis Resposta imunológica celular em linfonodo poplíteo e fígado de cães com leishmaniose visceral