Hypertension and its correlation with renal lesions in dogs with leishmaniosis.

To evaluate the prevalence of hypertension and its correlation with the severity of renal injury and proteinuria in dogs with leishmaniosis, sixty-six dogs were divided into two groups. Group 1 (G1) was composed of 54 dogs included in stage 1 of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and group 2 (G2) of twelve dogs in stages 2 and 3 of CKD. Prevalence of hypertension was 28.8%, comprising 22.2% of the dogs from G1 and 58.3% from G2 (P=0.011). The mean arterial blood pressure (BP) of dogs from G1 (135.7 ± 20.5) was lower than from G2 (170.0 ± 26.3) (P <0.001). Urine protein-creatinine ratio (UP/C) revealed values above 0.5 in 75.7% of the dogs, with 34% presenting hypertension. All dogs with hypertension had histopathological and laboratory evidence of glomerular disease. Although there was no statistically significant correlation between elevated BP and the severity of glomerular lesions (P=0.408), there was a statistically significant correlation between elevated BP and increased UP/C in the studied population (P=0.002). Thus, dogs with leishmaniosis and renal disease must be screened for the presence of hypertension so that treatment may be instituted as early as possible, in countries where treatment is allowed, to prevent the progression of renal damage.

Hypertension and its correlation with renal lesions in dogs with leishmaniosis / Hipertensão e sua correlação com lesões renais em cães com leishmaniose

To evaluate the prevalence of hypertension and its correlation with the severity of renal injury and proteinuria in dogs with leishmaniosis, sixty-six dogs were divided into two groups. Group 1 (G1) was composed of 54 dogs included in stage 1 of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and group 2 (G2) of twelve dogs in stages 2 and 3 of CKD. Prevalence of hypertension was 28.8%, comprising 22.2% of the dogs from G1 and 58.3% from G2 (P=0.011). The mean arterial blood pressure (BP) of dogs from G1 (135.7 ± 20.5) was lower than from G2 (170.0 ± 26.3) (P <0.001). Urine protein-creatinine ratio (UP/C) revealed values above 0.5 in 75.7% of the dogs, with 34% presenting hypertension. All dogs with hypertension had histopathological and laboratory evidence of glomerular disease. Although there was no statistically significant correlation between elevated BP and the severity of glomerular lesions (P=0.408), there was a statistically significant correlation between elevated BP and increased UP/C in the studied population (P=0.002). Thus, dogs with leishmaniosis and renal disease must be screened for the presence of hypertension so that treatment may be instituted as early as possible, in countries where treatment is allowed, to prevent the progression of renal damage.

Para avaliar a prevalência de hipertensão arterial e sua correlação com a severidade da lesão renal e proteinúria em cães com leishmaniose, 66 cães foram divididos em dois grupos. O grupo 1 (G1), composto por 54 cães em estágio 1 de doença renal crônica (DRC), e o grupo 2 (G2) por 12 cães em estágios 2 e 3 de DRC. A prevalência de hipertensão foi de 28,8%, compreendendo 22,2% dos cães de G1 e 58,3% dos cães de G2 (p = 0,011). A pressão arterial média (PA) de G1 (135,7 ± 20,5) foi inferior a de G2 (170,0 ± 26,3) (P <0,001). A relação proteína creatinina urinária (P/C U) foi maior que 0,5 em 75,7% dos cães, dos quais 34% possuíam hipertensão. Todos os cães com hipertensão apresentavam doença glomerular. Embora não tenha sido observada correlação estatisticamente significativa entre elevação da PA e severidade das lesões glomerulares (P =0,408), houve uma correlação significativa entre PA elevada e aumento da UP/C (P = 0,002). Portanto, cães com leishmaniose e doença renal devem ser pesquisados ​​quanto à presença de hipertensão, para que o tratamento possa ser instituído o mais precocemente possível em países onde ele é permitido, para evitar a progressão da lesão renal.

Coinfection of Leishmania chagasi with Toxoplasma gondii, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) in cats from an endemic area of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis.

The aim of the present study was to determine the coinfection of Leishmania sp. with Toxoplasma gondii, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) in a population of cats from an endemic area for zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis. An overall 66/302 (21.85%) cats were found positive for Leishmania sp., with infection determined by direct parasitological examination in 30/302 (9.93%), by serology in 46/302 (15.23%) and by both in 10/302 (3.31%) cats. Real time PCR followed by amplicon sequencing successfully confirmed Leishmania infantum (syn Leishmania chagasi) infection. Out of the Leishmania infected cats, coinfection with FIV was observed in 12/66 (18.18%), with T. gondii in 17/66 (25.75%) and with both agents in 5/66 (7.58%) cats. FeLV was found only in a single adult cat with no Leishmania infection. A positive association was observed in coinfection of Leishmania and FIV (p<0.0001), but not with T. gondii (p>0.05). In conclusion, cats living in endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis are significantly more likely to be coinfected with FIV, which may present confounding clinical signs and therefore cats in such areas should be always carefully screened for coinfections.

Sorofrequência de infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência felina e vírus da leucemia felina em gatos do município de Araçatuba, São Paulo / Serofrequency of feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus in cats of Araçatuba, São Paulo

imunodeficiência viral felina e a leucemia viral felina representam importantes doenças infecciosas causadas por retrovírus. O presente estudo teve por objetivos investigar a sorofrequência da infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência felina (FIV) e pelo vírus da leucemia felina (FeLV) em gatos provenientes do município de Araçatuba, Estado de São Paulo. Amostras de sangue de 302 gatos foram colhidas e testadas quanto à presença de anticorpos antivírus da imunodeficiência felina e do antígeno do vírus da leucemia felina por meio do ELISA Snap-Combo®FIV-FeLV (IDEXX Laboratories). A frequência de positividade para FIV foi de 5,63% (17/302) e para FeLV de 0,33% (1/302). Dos 17 gatos infectados pelo FIV, nove (52,94%) eram sintomáticos. Houve um predomínio da infecção pelo FIV em machos (p = 0,0316) e em gatos com idade variando entre um e três anos (p = 0,0324).

Feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia represent important infectious diseases caused by retroviruses. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of infection by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) in cats from the municipality of Araçatuba, São Paulo. Blood samples from 302 cats were collected and tested for the presence of antibodies against feline immunodeficiency virus and antigen of feline leukemia virus by ELISA ® Snap- Combo FIV-FeLV (IDEXX Laboratories). The frequency of FIV positivity was 5.63% (17/302) and of FeLV was 0.33% (1/302). Of the 17 cats infected with FIV, nine (52.94%) were symptomatic. There was a prevalence of FIV infection in males (p = 0.0316) and cats aged between one and three years (p = 0.0324).