Clinical and hematological findings in Leishmania braziliensis-infected dogs from Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

Canine cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania braziliensis is a neglected, but widespread disease of dogs in South America. This paper describes clinical and hematological alterations in 17 L. braziliensis-infected dogs from Brazil. The most common hematological findings were thrombocytopenia (82.4%), anemia (70.6%), low packed cell volume (52.9%) and eosinophilia (41.2%). Twelve (70.6%) dogs displayed at least one evident physical alteration; 11 dogs (64.7%) presented skin lesions, four (23.5%) had weight loss and two (11.8%) onychogryphosis. L. braziliensis-infected dogs present clinical and hematological signs often observed in dogs infected by other pathogens. This indicates that veterinarians and public health workers should not consider the presence of non-specific clinical signs as diagnostic criteria for visceral leishmaniasis in dogs living endemic areas to avoid misdiagnosis and subsequent elimination of dogs infected by L. braziliensis.Keywords: Leishmania braziliensis, dogs, Pernambuco, Brazil. ResumoA leishmaniose cutânea canina causada por Leishmania braziliensis é uma doença negligenciada, mas disseminada entre cães na America do Sul. Este artigo descreve alterações clínicas e hematológicas em 17 cães infectados por L. braziliensis do Brasil. As alterações hematológicas mais comuns foram trombocitopenia (82,4%), anemia (70,6%), baixo valor de hematócrito (52,9%) e eosinofilia (41,2%). Doze (70,6%) cães apresentaram pelo menos uma alteração física; 11 (64,7%) apresentaram lesões cutâneas, quatro (23,5%) perda de peso e dois (11,8%) onicogrifose. Cães infectados por L. braziliensis apresentaram alterações clínicas e hematológicas inespecíficas que são comumente observadas em cães infectados por outros patógenos. Isso indica que veterinários e profissionais de saúde pública não deveriam considerar a presença de tais sinais clínicos como critério de diagnóstico para leishmaniose visceral em cães, em áreas endêmicas, no intuito de evitar um diagnóstico equivocado e a subsequente eliminação de cães infectados por L. braziliensis.

Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in dogs in Brazil: epidemiology, co-infection, and clinical aspects

“…Particularly, for L. braziliensis, the lower frequency of dogs with clinical signs reinforces the subclinical and asymptomatic LCan profile, which is consistent with the results of previous studies (Solano-Gallego et al, 2009;Figueredo et al, 2012) that reported few canines with any clinical evidence of the disease. Furthermore, most dogs were resistant and without clinical or pathological signs throughout their lives.…”

“…Some studies in endemic areas of LVCan revealed small reductions in the number of cells in the erythrogram, indicating anemia, as well as thrombocytopenia and hyperproteinemia in animals with positive serology (Da Silva et al, 2011). Similar changes were observed in dogs positive for L. braziliensis (Figueredo et al, 2012).…”

Leishmania infection and blood food sources of phlebotomines in an area of Brazil endemic for visceral and tegumentary leishmaniasis

“…Furthermore, dogs and rodents are considered likely reservoirs of L . braziliensis in Brazil [76–78], even though the role and epidemiological significance of dogs in this context have yet to be fully understood. Although the presence of L .…”

Clinical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in dogs with furazolidone and domperidone

“…Prior to treatment, the main haematological findings in the treatment and control groups were thrombocytopenia (50% of animals), eosinophilia (25%) and anaemia (8.33%), whilst a previous study observed 82.4%, 41.2% and 70.6%, respectively, for the same characteristics in dogs with CL [11]. At 120 days from the beginning of the study, one dog that had been treated and cured with furazolidone alternated with domperidone continued to have anaemia.…”