RESUMEN
Descreve-se um caso de leishmaniose visceral em um canino, macho, Akita, cinco anos, que foi atendido no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade de Cruz Alta, RS, após residir três anos no Estado de Alagoas. Clinicamente observou-se emagrecimento progressivo, lesões crostosas na ponta das orelhas, focinho e região periorbital, úlcera na região distal do membro torácico direito, opacidade da córnea, vômitos e eventuais episódios de diarréia. O exame sorológico para leishmaniose pelo método de ELISA resultou positivo. Na avaliação da medula óssea por imprints (corados por Panóptico), foi possível observar formas amastigotas no citoplasma de macrófagos. A histopatologia consistia de reação linfohistioplasmocitária acentuada, com estruturas basofílicas sugestivas de formas amastigotas de Leishmania sp. no citoplasma de macrófagos. A aplicação da técnica de imunoistoquímica mostrou imunomarcação positiva para Leishmania sp.
A case of visceral leishmaniasis in a five-year-old, intact male Akita presented to the Veterinary Hospital at the University of Cruz Alta, RS, Brazil after having lived in the state of Alagoas for three years is described. Clinical signs included progressive weight loss, crusty lesions on the tip of the ears, nose and periorbital region, an ulcer at the distal region of the right forelimb, corneal opacity, vomiting, and occasional bouts of diarrhea. Serologic testing for leishmaniasis by ELISA was positive. Macrophages with intracytoplasmic amastigote forms were observed in bone marrow imprints stained with Diff Quick. Histopathology was characterized by marked lymphohistioplasmacytic inflammation associated with intrahistiocytic basophilic structures suggestive of leishmanial amastigotes. The diagnosis of leishmaniasis was confirmed by positive immunohistochemical staining for Leishmania sp.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The safety of ketamine when administered by the spinal route must be confirmed in various animal species before it is approved for use in humans. This study evaluates the ultrastructure of canine meninges after repeated doses of epidural S(+)-ketamine. METHODS: Five dogs received S(+)-ketamine 5%, 1 mg/kg, twice a day for 10 days through an epidural catheter with its tip located at the L5 level. One dog received the same volume of normal saline at the same times. The spinal cord and meninges were processed for histopathological and ultrastructural studies. Clinical effects were assessed after each injection. RESULTS: Motor and sensory block appeared after each injection of S(+)-ketamine, but not in the dog receiving saline. No signs of clinical or neurologic alterations were observed. Using light microscopy, no meningeal layer showed alterations except focal infiltration at the catheter tip level by macrophages, lymphocytes, and a few mast cells. The cells of different layers were studied by electron microscopy and interpreted according to data from human and other animal species because no ultrastructural description of the canine meninges is currently available. There were no cellular signs of inflammation, phagocytosis, or degeneration in meningeal layers and no signs of atrophy, compression, or demyelinization in the areas of dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord around the arachnoid. These findings were common for dogs receiving S(+)-ketamine and the dog receiving saline. CONCLUSION: Repeated doses of epidural S(+)-ketamine 5%, 1 mg/kg, twice a day for 10 days was not associated to cellular alterations in canine meninges.