Prednisolone associated with doxycycline on the hematological parameters and serum proteinogram of dogs with ehrlichiosis / Efeitos da influência da prednisolona associada à doxiciclina nos parâmetros hematológicos e proteinograma sérico de cães com erliquiose

ABSTRACT: The objective of the present study was to assess the treatment of dogs with ehrlichiosis (tropical canine pancytopenia (TCP)) with doxycycline hydrochloride associated or not with prednisolone on the hematological profile and serum proteins. Ten dogs with TCP were selected in the Small Animal Medical Clinic Veterinary Hospital, Federal University of Campina Grande-UFCG-PB, Brazil. The diagnosis was obtained by clinical examination, hemogram and immunochromatographic test (with anti Ehrlichia canis antibodies). Samples were distributed randomly in two experimental groups of five animals each (n = 5), named GD and GDP. The GD group was treated with doxycycline (5 mg/kg, VO, BID for 28 days) and the GDP group was treated with doxycycline at the same dose and duration and prednisolone (2 mg/kg, VO, BID, for five days). Four blood collections were made during the treatment period: a base collection (M0), one at 10 days (M10), a second at 21 days (M21) and another at the end of the treatment (M28). These samples were used for the tests erythrogram, leucogram, plateletgram and proteinogram (dose of total proteins, pre-albumin, albumin, albumin, α-1 globulin, α-2 globulin, ß-globulin, ɣ-globulin and C- reactive protein) in the Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Hospital-UFCG-PB. Results, that presented normal distribution, was submitted to the Tukey test (P<0.05). Comparison of treatments GD and GDP showed that both promoted discreet and similar response in the hematological parameters at different times. Results obtained allowed the conclusion that both therapeutic protocols resulted in clinical, hematological parameter and proteinogram improvement, but the use of prednisolone at the dose administered during the first five days of treatment did not show more beneficial effects than isolated administration of doxycycline.

RESUMO: Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar os efeitos do tratamento de cães com erliquiose monocítica canina (EMC) com cloridrato de doxiciclina associada ou não à prednisolona sobre o perfil hematológico e de proteínas séricas. Foram selecionados, na Clínica Médica de Pequenos Animais do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG), 10 cães com EMC. O diagnóstico foi obtido através de exame clínico, hemograma e teste de imunoensaio imunocromatográfico (com anticorpos anti Ehrlichia canis). As amostras foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em dois grupos experimentais, com cinco animais cada (n=5), denominados GD e GDP. O grupo GD foi tratado com doxiciclina (5 mg/kg, VO, BID durante 28 dias) e o grupo GDP, tratado com doxiciclina na mesma dose e duração e prednisolona (2 mg/kg, VO, BID, durante 5 dias). Durante o período de tratamento, foram realizadas quatro coletas de sangue; uma coleta basal (M0), uma com 10 dias (M10), uma aos 21 dias (M21) e outra ao final do tratamento (M28). Dessas amostras foram realizados eritrograma, leucograma, plaquetograma e proteinograma (dosagem de proteínas totais, pré-albumina, albumina, α-1 globulina, α-2 globulina, ß-globulina, ɣ-globulina e proteína C-reativa) no Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do Hospital Veterinário da UFCG. Os resultados que apresentaram distribuição normal foram submetidos ao teste de Tukey (P<0,05). Ao comparar os tratamentos GD e GDP, observou-se que os dois promoveram resposta discreta e semelhante dos parâmetros hematológicos nos diferentes momentos. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que ambos os protocolos terapêuticos resultaram em melhora clínica e dos parâmetros hematológicos e do proteinograma. Porém, o uso da prednisolona na dose empregada durante os primeiros cinco dias de tratamento não demonstrou efeitos mais benéficos do que a administração isolada da doxiciclina.

Survey of Ehrlichia canis, Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. in dogs from a semiarid region of Brazil.

This study assessed the occurrence of Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. infections in 100 tick-harboring dogs from a semiarid region of the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. Blood samples and ticks were collected from the animals, and a questionnaire was submitted to dog owners to obtain general data. Blood samples were used to perform hemogram, direct blood smear and immunological and molecular hemoparasite detection. The 1,151 ticks collected were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus; direct smears revealed E. canis-like morulae in the monocytes of 4% (4/100) of the non-vaccinated female dogs, and 34% and 25% of the dogs tested positive for Ehrlichia canis by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. Blood smear examination revealed Babesia-suggestive merozoites in the erythrocytes of 2% (2/100) of the animals. Babesia vogeli was detected by PCR in ten animals (10%) and was correlated with young age (p = 0.007) and thrombocytopenia (p = 0.01). None of the animals showed Hepatozoon spp. positivity. These results indicate that E. canis is the main tick-borne canine pathogen in the study area and provide the first report of B. vogeli infection in dogs from Paraiba State.

Survey of Ehrlichia canis, Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. in dogs from a semiarid region of Brazil / Pesquisa de Ehrlichia canis, Babesia spp. e Hepatozoon spp. em cães de uma região semiárida do Brasil

This study assessed the occurrence of Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. infections in 100 tick-harboring dogs from a semiarid region of the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. Blood samples and ticks were collected from the animals, and a questionnaire was submitted to dog owners to obtain general data. Blood samples were used to perform hemogram, direct blood smear and immunological and molecular hemoparasite detection. The 1,151 ticks collected were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus; direct smears revealed E. canis-like morulae in the monocytes of 4% (4/100) of the non-vaccinated female dogs, and 34% and 25% of the dogs tested positive for Ehrlichia canis by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. Blood smear examination revealed Babesia-suggestive merozoites in the erythrocytes of 2% (2/100) of the animals. Babesia vogeli was detected by PCR in ten animals (10%) and was correlated with young age (p = 0.007) and thrombocytopenia (p = 0.01). None of the animals showed Hepatozoon spp. positivity. These results indicate that E. canis is the main tick-borne canine pathogen in the study area and provide the first report of B. vogeli infection in dogs from Paraiba State.

O presente estudo avaliou a ocorrência de infecção por Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp. e Hepatozoon spp. em 100 cães, infestados por carrapatos, oriundos de uma região semiárida do Estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Amostras de sangue e de carrapatos foram coletadas dos animais, e um questionário foi submetido aos proprietários dos cães para obter dados gerais. As amostras de sangue foram utilizadas para realização de hemograma, esfregaço sanguíneo e detecção molecular dos hemoparasitos. Os 1.151 carrapatos coletados foram identificados como Rhipicephalus sanguineus; os esfregaços sanguíneos revelaram mórulas sugestivas de E. canis em 4% (4/100) de cães fêmeas não vacinadas, e 34% e 25% dos cães foram positivos para Ehrlichia canis pela imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) e reação em cadeia pela polimerase (PCR), respectivamente. Os esfregaços sanguíneos revelaram merozoítas sugestivas de Babesia em eritrócitos de 2% (2/100) dos animais. Babesia vogeli foi detectada por PCR em dez animais (10%) e foi correlacionada com a idade jovem (p=0,007) e trombocitopenia (p=0,01). Nenhum dos animais apresentou positividade para Hepatozoon spp. Esses resultados indicam que E. canis é o principal patógeno canino transmitido por carrapato, na área estudada, e fornece o primeiro relato de infecção por B. vogeli em cães do Estado da Paraíba.