Uveitis associated to the infection by Leishmania chagasi in dog from the Olinda city, Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

Among the parasitic diseases, Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL) is included in the systemic illnesses of chronic evolution that attack men and dogs, presenting varied clinical manifestations as cachexia, dermatologic lesions, peripheral lymphadenopathies, besides the ocular lesions. This work report the case of a dog clinically suspected of having CVL, presenting skin lesions, cachexia, gryphosis, and ocular signs of uveitis. The parasitological diagnosis was accomplished for Canine Leishmaniasis through the visualization of amastigote forms of Leishmania chagasi in smears of bone marrow fluid aspirate, of non-lesioned, and lesioned skin. Alterations in the ocular structures are characterized mainly by mononuclear-plasmocitic infiltrate.

Ocular alterations in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi

“…This might be due to iris and ciliary vessel dilation (Krohne and Vestre, 1987), due to the presence of the parasite or deposition of immune complexes in the iris stroma (Molleda et al, 1993). Increase of total protein may also be correlated to the great amount of plamocytes at the ciliary body (Brito et al, 2004).…”

Histopathological findings and detection of parasites in the eyes of dogs infected naturally with Leishmania chagasi

“…Twenty-five dogs infected naturally with a positive parasitological exam for L. chagasi (bone marrow aspiration biopsy) and positive serology for indirect immunofluorescence were included in the study (BRITO, 2004 Fragments were obtained from the third eyelid, third eyelid gland, conjunctiva, sclerocorneal limbus, sclera, cornea, iris, ciliary body, choroid, retina, and optic nerve and analyzed by immunohistochemistry and histopathology. Prior to immunohistochemistry of the anterior uvea, melanin depigmentation was performed to minimize background effects between pigments and immunostaining using oxalic acid 5% and potassium permanganate.…”

“…These lesions might be the result of direct ocular parasitism but immune-mediated mechanisms have also been reported (KOUTINAS et al, 1999). Some investigators found that ocular disease can be uni-or bilateral and even cause more than one alteration in the same eye (PEÑA et al, 2000;BRITO, 2004). Studies have shown that both segments of the eye might be affected, but that lesions predominate in the anterior segment (MOLLEDA et al, 1993;BRITO, 2004;BRITO et al, 2004).…”

“…Some investigators found that ocular disease can be uni-or bilateral and even cause more than one alteration in the same eye (PEÑA et al, 2000;BRITO, 2004). Studies have shown that both segments of the eye might be affected, but that lesions predominate in the anterior segment (MOLLEDA et al, 1993;BRITO, 2004;BRITO et al, 2004). Histopathological alterations can affect different structures of the eye and are mainly characterized by the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate and, less commonly, by amastigote forms of the parasite, which permeates ocular tissues (MOLLEDA et al, 1993;LAUGIER & VERRO-BOULANGER, 1992;GARCÍA-ALONSO et al, 1996).…”

“…In Brazil, canine kala-azar plays an important role in small animal practice due to the growing diagnosis of associated ophthalmopathies (BRITO et al, 2004). The conditions involved in the pathogenesis of ocular events in dogs infected with Leishmania chagasi are still a matter of controversy.…”