Caracterização clínica e laboratorial de cães naturalmente infectados com Trypanosoma cruzi no semiárido nordestino

Abstract

This study aimed to evidence the clinical and laboratorial signs of this disease to help characterize this illness in a natural way in the semiarid in the northeastern region. We evaluated 10 positive for Trypanosoma cruzi dogs, that were identiϐied by serological analysis of immunoϐluorescence assay (RIFI) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); molecular analysis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), direct microscopy and blood culture. The chagasic dogs underwent physical examination, electrocardiographic, radiographic, blood pressure, hematology (erythrocyte and leukocyte count) and biochemical exams (urea, creatinine, ALT, AST, PT, albumin, globulin, CK, CK-MB, and cTnl). The physical examination and the blood pressure were presented within the normal range, while in the electrocardiography the FC was observed as normal with a sinus rhythm, with the exception of one dog that presented a sinus tachycardia (168 bat/min). In the ECG of eight dogs there was increase of duration of P (47+6.5ms) suggestive to atrial enlargement, not conϐirmed in the radiography. A supraunlevelling was observed in the ST segment in one dog. In the hematological results, thrombocytopenia (187.4x10 3 +137.2x10 3 ) and anemia (5.0x10 6 +1.39x10 6 /ul) were noted. The mean hemoglobin (11 +2.7g/dL), hematocrit (34+10.5%) were below normal limits. The white series were within normal variation, with the exception of eosinophilia observed in three dogs. Individually, there were two dogs which registered leukocytosis, lymphocytosis and neutrophilia. In the biochemical evaluation there was hyperproteinemia PT=7.2 +0.9g/dL, hypoalbuminemia (2.2+0.4g/dL), hyperglobulinemia (5.1+1.0g/dL), increased of CK (196+171 U/L) and there was no alteration on ALT and AST enzymes. The CK-MB isoenzymes and cTnI did not change, except in three dogs. We conclude that dogs naturally infected in the northeastern semiarid present characteristics related to indeterminate chronic form (asymptomatic dogs) and that the identiϐication of the naturally infected dogs with no pathognomonic characteristics of the Chagas disease underscores the importance of this illness in the diagnostic process with the other proϐiles that show nonspeciϐic or not associated to cardiovascular disease.INDEX TERMS: Heart disease, parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, Chagas disease, diseases of dog, parasitology.

Prevalence of American Trypanosomiasis and Leishmaniases in Domestic Dogs in a Rural Area of the Municipality of São João Do Piauí, Piauí State, Brazil

“…(2012) 24 , where naturally infected dogs in the northeastern semiarid region presented characteristics related to the undetermined chronic form, that is, asymptomatic dogs. This difficulty in the identification of naturally infected dogs, with no pathognomonic characteristics of CD and VL, complicates the diagnostic process and the prevention and control measures.…”

Pathological and immunohistochemical findings of a case of canine chagasic myocarditis in the state of Mato Grosso

“…On the other hand, serological evidence is necessary to diagnose the subclinical form of the disease (SOUZA et al, 2009;SANTANA et al, 2012). Although a valuable diagnostic tool, serology is limited by cross-reactions with other agents such as protozoan Leishmania sp.…”

“…Dogs are considered as reservoirs of T. cruzi, and play an important role in the maintenance and the interaction between the domestic and wild cycles of the disease in humans (SOUZA et al, 2008(SOUZA et al, , 2009SANTANA et al, 2012). Similar to the manner by which humans are infected, dogs contract the disease when they are instinctively infected with the vector faeces, into their own eyes and/or mouth, or into any skin break.…”

“…Other similar forms of transmission include ingestion of foodstuff containing contaminated vectors and transplacental infection (NISIDA et al, 1999;BEARD et al, 2003). The canine species is the only one known to develop clinical features similar to those presented by humans (SOUZA et al, 2008(SOUZA et al, , 2009SANTANA et al, 2012). In both species, the disease has three clinical forms: acute, subacute and chronic, and can manifest with cardiac and digestive clinical signs, and less commonly, neurological symptoms (SANTANA et al, 2012;PASCON et al, 2010).…”

Estudo clínico e de fatores de risco associados às alterações cardiovasculares em cães1

“…Embora não tenha sido possível registrar as etiologias das cardiopatias, sugere-se, diante dos sinais clínicos, achados epidemiológicos e do histórico de alta incidência destas patologias na região estudada (Tanikawa et al 2013, Mendes et al 2014, uma possível participação e envolvimento destas nos casos registrados. Adicionalmente, embora em menor frequência na região de estudo, sugere-se o envolvimento de patologias como a dirofilariose e doença de chagas canina (Lappin 1997, Santana et al 2012, as quais também são relatadas neste envolvimento, sendo especialmente importante nos casos de animais assintomá-ticos, devendo ser melhor estudadas e incluídas no rol dos diagnósticos diferenciais das arritmias cardíacas canina.…”