Diagnóstico parasitológico y molecular de tripanosomiasis canina por Trypanosoma evansi en perros asociados a la caza en dos localidades del Departamento de Artigas, Uruguay

espanolEl objetivo del presente trabajo es reportar dos casos autoctonos fatales de tripanosomiasis canina causada por Trypanosoma evansi, enfermedad tambien conocida como surra, en perros cruza utilizados para la caza provenientes de dos localidades del Departamento de Artigas, Uruguay. Los casos se presentaron en los meses de setiembre y noviembre del 2017. Los signos clinicos fueron anemia, edemas en zona ocular, oral y miembros posteriores, inapetencia y desmejoramiento general progresivo. El diagnostico se realizo tomando en cuenta signos clinicos y analisis paraclinicos: hemograma, funcional hepatico, frotis de sangre y PCR/secuenciacion. En los frotis sanguineos se visualizaron tripomastigotes cuya morfologia era compatible con Trypanosoma spp. En hemograma se destaca anemia hipocromica y trombocitopenia, en el funcional hepatico se detectaron altos niveles de enzimas hepaticas (AST/GGT/GOT/Fosfatasa Alcalina). Se realizaron tres PCRs que amplificaron un fragmento parcial del gen ARN ribosomal 18S (ARNr 18S) asi como de dos fragmentos solapantes del espaciador transcrito interno ITS (ITS1+5,8S+ITS2). Las secuencias obtenidas tuvieron una homologia del 100% para el gen ARNr 18S y del 99% para la region ITS con T. evansi. Estos casos representan el segundo diagnostico para Uruguay de T. evansi y los primeros reportes de muerte a causa de esta tripanosomiasis en perros para el pais. Se trata de una enfermedad a tener en cuenta ya que ademas de considerarse emergente para el pais puede afectar gravemente a otras especies, siendo de notificacion a la OIE (Organizacion Mundial de Sanidad Animal). Palabras claves: Tripanosomiasis canina, surra, anemia, Trypanosoma evansi, Uruguay EnglishThe aim of this work is to report two fatal autochthonous cases of canine trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma evansi, a disease also known as surra, in cross breed dogs used for hunting from two sites of Artigas Department, Uruguay. The cases appeared in the months of September and November of 2017. The clinical signs were anemia, ocular, oral and posterior limbs edema, inappetence and progressive general deterioration. The diagnosis was made taking into account clinical signs and paraclinical analysis: hemogram, liver function test, blood smear and PCR/sequencing. Blood smears showed trypomastigotes whose morphology was compatible with Trypanosoma spp. In hemogram and liver function test it was noted hypochromic anemia and thrombocytopenia, in addition to high levels of liver enzymes (AST/GGT/GOT/Alkaline Phosphatase). Three PCRs were performed that amplified a partial fragment of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene (18S rRNA) as well as two overlapping fragments of the internal transcribed spacer ITS (ITS1+5.8S+ITS2). The sequences obtained had a homology of 100% for the 18S rRNA gene and 99% for the ITS region with T. evansi. These cases represent the second diagnosis for Uruguay of T. evansi and the first reports of death due to this trypanosomiasis in dogs for the country. It is a disease to be taken into account, since, in addition to being considered emerging disease for the country; it can seriously affect other species, being an OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) notified disease. Keywords: Canine trypanosomiasis, surra, anemia, Trypanosoma evansi, Uruguay