Leishmaniose canina revisão de literatura

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by the flagellated protozoan of the genus Leishmania spp. Canine leishmaniasis (LC) can be caused by L. infantum, L. guyanensi, L. major, L. tropica, L. panamensis, L. braziliensis (type 1 and type 2) and L. amazonensis. It is a zoonosis endemic to Brazil and the Mediterranean Basin, whose dogs are the main reservoirs. It is transmitted by sand flies that feed on blood. The sand fly mosquito Lutzomyia longipalpis is the primary vector. Domestic dogs, rodents, sloths and skunks play the role of reservoir hosts. In Brazil, human visceral leishmaniasis is distributed in 21 states, occurring in the five Brazilian regions. However, it presents different geographical, climatic and social aspects. In Bahia, it is an endemic disease in a notable expansion in the State, present in 174 of the 417 municipalities in Bahia, which are classified according to the risk of intense transmission, moderate transmission and sporadic transmission. The disease in dogs is characterized by a chronic subclinical infection. In symptomatic animals, clinical signs include lymphadenomegaly, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, fever, diarrhea, lethargy, progressive weight loss and non-pruritic exfoliative dermatitis. In addition, most dogs have secondary skin lesions, such as alopecia and hypotrichosis, hyperkeratosis, hyperpigmentation, crusts and opportunistic secondary infections, such as malasseziosis and folliculitis. The most useful diagnostic approach for investigating infection in sick and clinically infected dogs includes the detection of antibodies by various serological techniques, demonstration of the parasite's DNA in tissues by molecular techniques, and the cultivation and subsequent identification of the agent. Treatment is done with drugs such as meglumine antimoniate, miltefosine, allopurinol. In addition, immunotherapy can also be done using immunomodulators such as domperidone and corticosteroids. Currently in Brazil, prevention and control of leishmaniasis has been carried out through the euthanasia of positive dogs. However, alternatives to euthanasia have been researched, such as vaccination of dogs, treatment of infected dogs and the use of collars impregnated with deltamethrin. The objective of this work is to gather information pertinent to the disease, through a concise literature review that serves as a research base for veterinarians and students.