Análise clínica elabora torial em cães eutanasiados no centro de controle de zoonoses de Bauru-SP, com vistas ao diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral (LV)

Visceralleishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis with high incidence and mortality, caused in Brazil by Leishmania chagasi protozoa and transmitted by phlebotomies vectors. Dog is the main domestic reservoir, due its high cutaneous parasitism and closely with humano Tests used for canine VL diagnosis can present limitations, producing false-positive results (that condemn noninfected dogs to euthanasia), and false-negative results (that allows the reservoirs' keeping). The objective of this study was to use three associated tests (indirect immunofluorescence reaction, parasitological exam and polymerase chain reaction) for the VL diagnosis in 100 culled dogs at Zoonosis Control Center in Bauru-SP, an endemic area for VL. Moreover, it was intended to verify the presence of clinical signs and its frequency in dogs, and also the association with positive results obtained by diagnosis tests. Emaciation (60%), splenomegaly (57%) and alopecia (51%) were the most frequent signs. Only one asymptomatic dog presented positive results by the three diagnosis tests used. There was an important association between clinical signs and positive results, indicating that symptomatic dogs from endemic areas have good chances to be really infected with the parasite.