Clinical profile of naturally infected dogs from an endemic area for “Leishmania chagasi” (infantum) in Bahia State, Brazil

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to report a description of the clinical profile of naturally infected dogs from an endemic area for Leishmania chagasi (infantum)-caused visceral leishmaniosis in Brazil, where a wide range of clinical signs are attributed to the infection in dogs. Sixty one dogs, seropositives for anti-L. chagasi antibodies by ELISA, from the urban and peri urban areas of Jequie, in Bahia State were studied. Each clinical sign of disease was recorded. Parasitological diagnosis of Leishmania infection was positive by culture of spleen aspirated samples in 21.3 % (13/61) seropositive dogs, although all of them (100%) were defined as symptomatic by physical examination. A positive statistical correlation was found between seropositivity with high levels of optical density (above 1.0) in ELISA and presence of parasites in culture of spleen aspirates (r=0.8555; p=0.00327), cutaneous disease (p=0.0402), conjunctivitis (p=0.050), enlargement of spleen (p=0.0272) and lameness (p=0.0256). A tendency of lowered red blood cell counts was also found among animals with higher seropositivity. The group of animals with positive parasitological tests presented more mucosal lesions (p=0.0106), apathy (p=0.0469), and leucocytosis with left deviation (p=0.0224). The conjunct of clinical alterations associated to positive serological or parasitological diagnosis for Leishmania chagasi infection were similar to the reported signs of disease caused by L infantum and L. donovani in Old World countries.