Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: clinical, parasitological, therapeutical and epidemiological findings (1977-1983)

Abstract

Forty dogs from the periphery of the city of Rio de Janeiro were studied. All dogs where diagnosed as positive for leishmaniasis either parasitologically and/or serologically. Among them, 19 came from areas where only Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) occurs (Realengo, Bangu, Senador Camará). Clinical signs of the disease were seen in 36.8% of the cases, including emaciation - 100%, lymphadenopathy and depilation - 85.7%. The other 21 dogs came from an area (Campo Grande) where both diseases (VL, and American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis - ACL) occur. Clinical signs of the disease, mainly cutaneous or mucocutaneous ulcers were seen in 76.2% of the cases. Leishmania parasites were found in 39 cases: 22% in viscera, 42.5% in viscera and normal skin and 35% in cutaneous or mucocutaneous ulcers. All the Leishmania stocks isolated from dogs which came from Realengo, Bangu, Senador Camará (VL area), and from Campo Grande (VL + ACL area) were characterized as L. donovani (except in one case) according to their schizodeme, zymodeme and serodeme. The only stock characterized as L. b. braziliensis, was isolated from the lymph node of a dog from Campo Grande with visceral disease and without skin lesions. Antimony therapy attempted in eight Leishmania donovani positive dogs was unsuccessful.

Aspectos clínicos e de laboratório de cães soropositivos para leishmaniose

“…Segundo Marzochi et al (1985), sua ocorrência tem sido registrada em diversos estados do Brasil e também na área do Grande Rio, em cães provenientes de regiões de matas, encostas e aglomerados ainda não urbanizados. Segundo os autores, a freqüência de cães infectados assintomáticos é de 63,2%.…”

“…Foram realizados exames clínicos e procederam-se três colheitas de sangue em intervalos de 15 dias (dia 0 na confirmação sorológica, dia 15 e dia 30 após a primeira colheita). As análises laboratoriais foram realizadas conforme Coles (1986 Marzochi et al (1985) explicaram que essa alteração é atribuída à baixa atividade dos cães e conseqüente falta de desgaste das unhas.…”

Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in the region of Saquarema: potential area of visceral leishmaniasis transmission in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…This report demonstrates the potential risk of VL transmission in the continuous region of the massif of Mato Grosso that includes Maricá, Saquarema and Rio Bonito in the coastal area of the state. The presence of Lutzomyia longipalpis at a low low density was first reported in Campo Grande, the capital city of Mato Grosso do Sul, by Oliveira et al 6 , followed by the diagnosis of the first canine case of visceral leishmaniasis. Only a few years later, L. longipalpis dominated the sandfly fauna and is now the main species in all catches, with an increasing number of VL cases in the city 15 .…”

“…Since the first outbreak of the disease in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro on the slopes of Pedra Branca massif 6 , isolated cases have been reported in other municipalities of the state, such Itaguai, Mangaratiba and Angra dos Reis (Ilha Grande) 7 .…”

First autochthonous case of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…In view of the broad spectrum of clinical manifestations (MARZOCHI et al, 1985), canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) should be diagnosed based on a combination of clinical, laboratory and epidemiological data (GONTIJO; MELO, 2004).…”