| dc.description.abstract | Leishmaniasis represent complex and chronic diseases with broad geographic distribution and high importance in public health worldwide. The disease has varied clinical presentations, including joint changes, that are little discussed. The diagnosis for canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is complex because the clinical signs may be similar to various conditions. Several methods can be used in the diagnosis, but none has 100% sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, the correct diagnosis of CVL is still a challenge although several methods present significant progress today. Laboratory findings provide important information for assessing the patient's clinical status and prognosis. The parasitological analysis of synovial fluid (SF) is also crucial in the diagnosis and highlights high sensitivity in the detection of the parasite. This study aims to analyze the physical, chemical cytological and parasitological characteristics of the tarsal joint synovial and hematological and biochemical changes in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte. Group 2 was consisted of animals classified as stage II disease, with lymphadenopathy, papular dermatitis, onychogryphosis , skin ulcerations, weight loss and epistaxis ( mild disease ) and Group 3 animals were classified as stage III disease presenting in addition to signals described in group 2 , vasculitis , arthritis, glomerulonephritis and uveitis (severe disease) . The most frequent blood test, serum biochemistry and urinalysis findings were anemia in 100% of dogs in groups 2 and 3; Hyperproteinemia in 66.7% of group 2 dogs and 83.3 % of group 3 dogs ; hypoalbuminemia in 91.7 % of dogs in groups 2 and 3; hyperglobulinaemia in 83.3% of group 2 dogs and 91.7 % of group 3 ; decreased albumin -globulin (A / G) and proteinuria in 100% of dogs in groups 2 and 3. In the analysis of synovial fluid of dogs, the parasite was seen in 33.3 % (4/12) of the group's dogs 2 and 75 % (9/12 ) of group 3 dogs. Both showed an increase of neutrophils (64 %) in the SF. Negative correlations were observed between the parasite presence in SF, quality of mucin clot and viscosity and positive correlations between disease stage and globulin values, albumin/globulin, urea, creatinine and cylindruria. It was concluded from this study that the positive animals for CVL with severe disease had hematological and biochemical changes more pronounced, and the physico - chemical changes in the SF. It was also observed more often in SF parasite of animals of group 3 (severe disease). This work also highlights the viability SF assessment to aid in parasitological diagnosis of leishmaniasis in symptomatic dogs. | |
