Análise epidemiológica das dermatopatias de uma população canina atendida no período de 2005 a 2010 no Setor de Dermatologia do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

In Brazil, epidemiological studies on canine dermatopathies are scarce and the literature point out several gaps in knowledge about. The aim of this study was to describe the profile of canine population with dermatopathies attended by the Section of Dermatology, Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, testing associations with variables inherent to animals, eating habits, hygiene and in relation to concurrent dermatopathies. The records of all animals attended between January 2005 and December 2010 were organized in a database using the software Epi Info™ version 3.5.1. The Chi-square χ² test or Fisher´s exact test, the prevalence ratios and their confidence intervals, the χ² test for linear trend and the respective Odds ratios were used to evaluate the associations. The level of significance adopted was 5%. We reviewed the records of 2,280 dogs, with a total of 3,433 diagnostics, and 113 types of dermatopathies were identified. The population studied was composed predominantly of females (55.2%), adults (58.3%) and defined breed animals (67.32%). The categories of dermatopathies more prevalent were: allergic (41.35%), bacterial (23.94%) and endocrines (22.41%). The categories not zoonotic (94.12%) predominated over zoonotic diseases (5.88%). The more prevalent dermatitis were: atopic dermatitis - AD (31.67%), hypothyroidism (20.75%), bacterial folliculitis (8.42%), demodicosis (8.29%), flea infestation (7.67%) otitis by M. pachydermatis (6.14%), bacterial otitis (5.92%) and flea allergic dermatitis – FAD (5.8%). Sex was significantly associated with AD, hepatoid adenoma, acute moist dermatitis - AMD, hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism and demodicosis. Significant differences were observed in relation to age and AD, folliculitis, hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, scabiosis, demodicosis, dermatophytosis, systemic lupus erythematosus and neoplasms. The prevalence of AD, FAD, contact dermatitis, hypothyroidism, scabiosis, discoid lupus erythematosus, otohematoma and neoplasms varied with significant differences in relation to animal breed. In addition, there are statistical evidences of association between: AD and hypothyroidism, use of perfumes and cleaning products; FAD and AD, food allergic dermatitis and type of food; AMD and neutering, hair type and AD; hypothyroidism and neutering; demodicosis, hair type and neutering; sporotrichosis and contact with injuried animals. The study population is characterised by high prevalence of dermatopathies of the categories allergic, bacterial, endocrines, fungal and parasitic diseases and low prevalence of dermatozoonoses. The nosology of the population studied is consistent with the type of service offered by the Section of Dermatology, which is most seek for solving complex problems and in several occasions by private practitioners. It should be noted that the studied population was examined by a dermatologist from an University Veterinary Hospital where the technology could overcome the private clinics. Therefore, despite the validity of results, these should not be extrapolated without care for other populations. The variety of the diagnostics performed indicates that the diagnosis and management of dermatopathies must receive higher attention from graduates and specialists