Diagnóstico laboratorial de Leishmania spp. em cães oriundos de abrigos da Região Metropolitana do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and transmitted by hematophagous sandfly vectors of the genus Lutzomyia that infect a wide variety of mammalian hosts, including dogs and humans. Being considered a major public health problem, the canine reservoir derives from close and frequent contact between dogs and humans, and the fact that animals can present asymptomatic infection, despite a high degree of parasitism. The aim of the present study was to evaluate hematological, biochemical and clinical changes in dogs positive for Leishmania spp. by serological and molecular methods. Blood samples from 166 shelters dogs in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro were collected. Hematological and serum biochemical analysis of the animals, as well as the detection of antibodies anti- Leishmania spp. by double-path immunochromatographic rapid test TR DDP - (Fiocruz®) and Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction (RIFI) were performed. In addition, serologically positive animals were molecularly evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results showed that 10,84% (18/166) of the dogs presented seroreactivity by TR DDP, and these samples also underwent IFAT, in which 100% (18/18) of the animals were seroreagent. In PCR, based on the portion of the v7-v8 18S SSU rRNA gene, 16,66% (3/18) of shelter dogs were positive. No hematological, biochemical and clinical alterations were observed with the infection. No hematological, biochemical and clinical changes were observed with the infection. The results denote the importance of monitoring canine leishmnaniosis, especially in shelter dogs, so that control and prevention strategies can be implemented properly, minimizing the deleterious effects of this zoonosis and its spread to areas free of the disease