Edema de córnea severo em cão naturalmente infectado por Leishmania spp / Severe corneal edema in a dog naturally infected by Leishmania spp

ABSTRACT

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an infectious disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum that istransmitted to dogs and humans by sandflies. The incidence of eye injuries in VL is high. They occur in 20 to 81% ofinfected dogs and include blepharitis, granulomatous conjunctivitis, scleritis, keratitis, anterior uveitis, keratoconjunctivitissicca, and secondary glaucoma. However, some dogs present only the clinical signs of eye damage. The main objective ofthis manuscript is to report a case of anterior uveitis with severe corneal edema in a dog with VL that underwent clinicaland surgical ophthalmic treatments after miltefosine therapy.Case An 8-month-old, intact male Labrador Retriever with brown fur presented with pruritus, diffuse desquamation,and conjunctival hyperemia on physical evaluation. On the basis of an ophthalmic examination, nodular conjunctivitisand uveitis were diagnosed in both eyes. Moreover, laboratory examination results showed hyperproteinemia, increasedserum alkaline phosphatase activity, and positive reactions to immunochromatographic tests for VL. Clinical treatmentwas instituted from the moment of diagnosis, when miltefosine and allopurinol were prescribed. at the end of treatment,based on laboratory examination results, only clinical support treatment based on remaining clinical-pathological changeswas prescribed. Topical medications (prednisolone eye drops and sodium hyaluronate) were recommended for the ophthalmic changes. One week after the start of topical treatment, the dog showed...