In visceral leishmaniasis, the detection of the agent is of paramount importance to identify reservoirs of infection. Here, we evaluated the diagnostic attributes of PCRs based on primers directed to cytochrome-B (cytB), cytochrome-oxidase-subunit II (coxII), cytochrome-C (cytC), and the minicircle-kDNA. Although PCRs directed to cytB, coxII, cytC were able to detect different species of Leishmania, and the nucleotide sequence of their amplicons allowed the unequivocal differentiation of species, the analytical and diagnostic sensitivity of these PCRs were much lower than the analytical and diagnostic sensitivity of the kDNA-PCR. Among the 73 seropositive animals, the asymptomatic dogs had spleen and bone marrow samples collected and tested; only two animals were positive by PCRs based on cytB, coxII, and cytC, whereas 18 were positive by the kDNA-PCR. Considering the kDNA-PCR results, six dogs had positive spleen and bone marrow samples, eight dogs had positive bone marrow results but negative results in spleen samples and, in four dogs, the reverse situation occurred. We concluded that PCRs based on cytB, coxII, and cytC can be useful tools to identify Leishmania species when used in combination with automated sequencing. The discordance between the results of the kDNA-PCR in bone marrow and spleen samples may indicate that conventional PCR lacks sensitivity for the detection of infected dogs. Thus, primers based on the kDNA should be preferred for the screening of infected dogs.

Estudaram-se 24 cães adultos, com diferentes faixas etárias, com e sem raça definida. O objetivo foi avaliar a eficácia da determinação da hemoglobina glicosilada no diagnóstico e futuro monitoramento dos cães diabéticos sob insulinoterapia. Os animais foram divididos em um grupo controle (constituído de 12 animais saudáveis com níveis glicêmicos em jejum entre 80-120 mg/dl), e um grupo de diabéticos(constituído de 12 animais com níveis glicêmicos em jejum acima de 220 mg/dl e com glicosúria).Determinamos as concentrações de hemoglobina glicosilada em todos os animais. Esses valores foram reavaliados nos animais diabéticos 3 meses após o início da terapia insulínica. Os resultados mostraram valores normais em 100% do grupo controle, porém níveis elevados em todos cães diabéticos não tratados. Após 3 meses de tratamento, 58,34% dos cães diabético mostraram valores de hemoglobina glicosilada satisfatórios, além de um bom quadro clínico.

sem os quais não seria possível a realização desse trabalho. À Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) pelo suporte financeiro a esse projeto (processo 03/14127-0) Ao Prof. Dr. Carlos Eduardo Larsson, coordenador do curso de pós-graduação em Clínica Veterinária, pelo apoio.

The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis function may be impaired in patients with critical illnesses, especially cases of sepsis, named critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI). This study examined the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in normal dogs (n = 10) and dogs with critical diseases (n = 16), through determinations of endogenous ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), basal cortisol and cortisol after stimulation in low doses of synthetic ACTH (1.0μg/kg/IV). The stimulation test with ACTH dose tested was verified as effective for evaluation of adrenal function in healthy and sick dogs. Ill dogs differed from healthy dogs by presenting higher basal cortisol values. Eight sick dogs presented a decrease in endogenous ACTH, basal cortisol, or Δ-cortisol. No significant differences were found between the control groups and critically ill dogs for the values of endogenous ACTH, cortisol after stimulation or Δ-cortisol. We concluded that the stimulation test with low-dose ACTH was effective for evaluation of adrenal function, as well as the fact that a considerable portion of critically ill dogs studied here, especially with sepsis, had evidence of inadequate corticosteroid response to stress.