Cardiomiopatias parasitárias em cães no brasil e avaliação cardiovascular de uma cadela american bully naturalmente infectada por Trypanosoma cruzi.

Abstract

The objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the cardiovascular changes caused by parasitic cardiomyopathies. To this end, the study was divided into two chapters that address the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, cardiovascular and laboratory aspects of parasitic cardiomyopathies in dogs, with an emphasis on Chagas Disease. In the first chapter, a systematic literature review was carried out on parasitic cardiomyopathies in dogs in Brazil. In this, research was carried out in the Periódicos Capes, Google Scholar, National Library of Medicine and Web of Science databases. In view of this, there was a combination of terms in English, which were: “cardiac lesions or myocarditis” and “parasite” and “ehrlichia or leishmaniasis or chagas diseases” and “dog or canine” and “Brazil”, selecting the studies in Portuguese or English, originally from Brazil. In conclusion, the data on this topic is still unclear and the selected studies did not exclude other possible parasitic diseases that trigger myocarditis in dogs, before developing the projects, which could generate erroneous diagnoses. Furthermore, parasitic cardiomyopathies are present in clinical routine, developing myocarditis secondary to systemic diseases, such as Chagas Disease, Visceral Leishmaniasis and Ehrlichiosis, where these present high rates of morbidity and mortality. In the second chapter, cardiovascular changes were reported in a seven-month-old American Bully dog, living in the urban area of ​​Catolé do Rocha, PB, naturally infected by Trypanosoma cruzi. To diagnose the disease, ELISA was performed for T. cruzi, in addition to ruling out cross-reaction with Leishmania spp. Lymph node cytology and immunochromatographic test were performed Leishmaniasis AC Test Kit (Alere®), as well as Dilofilariasis and Ehrlichiosis, with negative results, exceeding the rapid test for Leishmania. Cardiovascular exams were performed: electrocardiography (ECG), Doppler echocardiography (ECHO), chest x-ray, and measurement of systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressure (BP). Additionally, the blood count, serum levels of urea, creatinine, Alkaline Phosphatase, Alanine Aminotransferase and the cardiac biomarker Troponin I (cTnI) were evaluated. The clinical evolution was monitored with the analysis of these parameters at moments M0 (at the time of consultation) and every 30 days thereafter (M1, M2 and M3 respectively), with ECHO and cTnI being evaluated at M0 and M3. Physiological and biochemical parameters did not present changes, however, leukocytosis (M0, M2 and M3) and mild thrombocytopenia (M1, M2 and M3) were observed. The ECG results followed with Mobitz type II second-degree atrioventricular block (M0, M1 and M2), atrial dissociation (M3) and left atrium overload was suggested, the latter being contradicted in the ECHO which presented no changes, as well as PA. cTnI remained increased at both moments (M0 and M3). It was concluded that although it is an epidemiological disease in rural areas, Chagas Disease may be present in asymptomatic dogs living in urban areas of epidemic regions and trigger clinically important arrhythmias. According to the data obtained, this dissertation concluded that zoonotic diseases such as Visceral Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease can affect dogs without necessarily developing clinical signs, acting as sentinels for these agents, facilitating transmission to humans. Likewise, animals with Chagas Disease can present serious arrhythmias, such as atrial dissociation, and high levels of cTnI without necessarily showing clinical signs and dysfunction of cardiovascular hemodynamics.