ABSTRACT
Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease highly prevalent in Brazil, and is relevant in canine clinical practice due to its high morbidity and mortality. Its clinical signs are nonspecific and its phases are acute, lasting 2 to 4 weeks; subclinical, i.e., asymptomatic; and chronic, resembling an autoimmune disease. The purpose of this study was to identify the occurrence of reactivity to Ehrlichia canis of bitches treated at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) - Niterói, RJ, Brazil, based on serological examination by iELISA, and to compare the hematological, biochemical, urinary protein-creatinine and urinary density profiles of reactive and non-reactive animals. This study involved solely bitches, regardless of breed, starting at 1 year of age. One hundred and thirty bitches, 1 to 16 year-old (mean age 7.02 ± 4.00), weighing 1.5 to 50 kg (mean weight 12.12 ± 10.65) were subjected to clinical examination and abdominal ultrasound. Complete blood count, biochemical measurements, urinalysis and serology for E. canis were also performed. The serum was used in the iELISA to identify immunoglobulin G (IgG), using a canine Ehrlichia Imunotest® diagnostic kit (Imunodot®, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Sixty animals (46.20%) were reactive to E. canis. According to their owners, only 5 (8.3%) of the 60 seroreactive animals had a history of tick-borne disease. The most common profile was that of mixed breed animals living with their owners, older than 7 years, who had not been treated preventatively with specific drugs against ectoparasites. Laboratory tests showed significant differences between groups in terms of total protein (TP), and calcium and urinary protein-creatinine ratio (UPC). TP and UPC were elevated in the non-reactive group, while the only significant change in the reactive group was mild hypocalcemia. In this study, 30% (18/60) of the bitches were seroreactive to E. canis and had hypocalcemia. Of these, 50% (9/18) had a UPC above 0.5. Furthermore, 66.7% (12/18) of this group with hypocalcemia also showed urine density (UD) of less than 1024. Among these 18 bitches, 5 had both alterations, i.e., UPC > 0.5 and UD < 1024. In this study, a high prevalence of bitches seroreactive to Ehrlichia canis was observed, despite the absence of clinical and/or laboratory signs indicative of the disease. In the investigation of IgG class antibodies, it is not possible to determine the exact time of infection, and titers may remain high for a period of more than 11 months, even after treatment and elimination of the bacterium. The fact that most seroreactive bitches showed no symptoms compatible with the disease either before or during the study suggests that they were in the subclinical phase of ehrlichiosis. The main reason for calcium metabolism disorders is a phosphorus imbalance, a condition that occurs in kidney diseases. Isosthenuria reflects the kidney's inability to concentrate urine. This finding may be one of the first clinical manifestations of chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially in dogs. On the other hand, the UPC ratio may increase with the progression of CKD. The presence of hypocalcemia, isosthenuria and increased UPC associated with seroreactivity suggests that infection by E. canis may be associated with the onset of CKD. Veterinarians should keep in mind the complexity of the pathophysiology of ehrlichiosis to ensure the disease is not underdiagnosed in any of its phases, thereby ensuring the correct treatment is provided. Such awareness is expected to reduce the chronicity of the disease and underlying sequelae among dogs.(AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Dogs , Ehrlichiosis/blood , Ehrlichiosis/veterinary , Tick-Borne Diseases/veterinary , Dog Diseases/blood , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/veterinary , Prevalence , DogsABSTRACT
O objetivo desse trabalho foi analisar a ocorrência dos critérios de Favrot em cães diagnosticados com Dermatite Atópica Canina (DAC) no Hospital Veterinário Professor Firmino Mársico Filho da Universidade Federal Fluminense, bem como sua associação com doenças concomitantes. Foram analisadas 2199 fichas propedêuticas com queixas dermatológicas, dos anos de 2016 e 2017. Do total, 165 (7,5%) animais foram diagnosticados com DAC dos quais 94 (57%) eram fêmeas e 71 (43%) machos. Embora os cães mestiços fossem a maioria dos casos (22,4%), a raça pura mais frequentemente acometida foi a Poodle (12,5%). Foram identificados 134 (81,2%) cães com cinco ou mais critérios de Favrot, sendo 32,7% animais com seis critérios, 26,7% com cinco critérios, 17,0% com sete critérios e 4,8% com oito critérios. Enfatiza-se o aparecimento em mais de 90% dos casos os critérios intradomiciliado, com prurido primário, responsivo à corticoterapia e com bordas das pinas não acometidas. Dos 165 animais avaliados, 115 (69,7%) eram portadores de uma ou mais afecções concomitantes à DAC, sendo a otite externa a principal (73%). Considera-se que os critérios de Favrot podem ser aplicados para a triagem dos pacientes com suspeita de dermatite atópica canina atendidos no HUVET-UFF.
The objective of this study was to analyze the occurrence of Favrot criteria in dogs diagnosed with Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD) at the Veterinary Hospital Professor Firmino Mársico Filho of Universidade Federal Fluminense, as well as its association with concomitant diseases. A total of 2199 propaedeutic records with dermatological complaints from 2016 and 2017 were analyzed. Of the total, 165 (7.5%) animals were diagnosed with CAD. Among those diagnosed with CAD, 94 (57%) were females and 71 (43%) males. Although crossbreed dogs were the majority of cases (22.4%), the purebred dog most frequently affected by CAD was the Poodle (12.5%). One hundred and thirty four (81.2%) animals were identified with five or more Favrot criteria, 32.7% animals with six criteria, 26.7% with five criteria, 17.0% with seven criteria and 4.8% with eight criteria. It emphasizes the appearance in more than 90% of criteria, dog living mostly indoors,alesional pruritus, glucocorticoid-responsive pruritus and nonaffected ear margins. Of the 165 animals evaluated, 115 (69.7%) had one or more conditions concomitant with CAD, with otitis externa being the main one (73%). It is considered that the Favrot criteria can be applied for the screening of patients with suspected canine atopic dermatitis treated at HUVET-UFF.
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs , Dogs/abnormalities , Dermatitis, Atopic/diagnosis , Skin Diseases/diagnosis , Skin Diseases/veterinary , HypersensitivityABSTRACT
O objetivo desse trabalho foi analisar a ocorrência dos critérios de Favrot em cães diagnosticados com Dermatite Atópica Canina (DAC) no Hospital Veterinário Professor Firmino Mársico Filho da Universidade Federal Fluminense, bem como sua associação com doenças concomitantes. Foram analisadas 2199 fichas propedêuticas com queixas dermatológicas, dos anos de 2016 e 2017. Do total, 165 (7,5%) animais foram diagnosticados com DACdos quais 94 (57%) eram fêmeas e 71 (43%) machos. Embora os cães mestiços fossem a maioria dos casos (22,4%), a raça pura mais frequentemente acometida foi a Poodle (12,5%). Foram identificados 134 (81,2%) cães com cinco ou mais critérios de Favrot, sendo 32,7% animais com seis critérios, 26,7% com cinco critérios, 17,0% com sete critérios e 4,8% com oito critérios. Enfatiza-se o aparecimento em mais de 90% dos casos os critérios intradomiciliado, com prurido primário, responsivo à corticoterapia e com bordas das pinas não acometidas. Dos 165 animais avaliados, 115 (69,7%) eram portadores de uma ou mais afecções concomitantes à DAC, sendo a otite externa a principal (73%). Considera-se que os critérios de Favrot podem ser aplicados para a triagem dos pacientes com suspeita de dermatite atópica canina atendidos no HUVET-UFF.
The objective of this study was to analyze the occurrence of Favrot criteria in dogs diagnosed with Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD) at the Veterinary Hospital Professor Firmino Mársico Filho of Universidade Federal Fluminense, as well as its association with concomitant diseases. A total of 2199 propaedeutic records with dermatological complaints from 2016 and 2017 were analyzed. Of the total, 165 (7.5%) animals were diagnosed with CAD. Among those diagnosed with CAD, 94 (57%) were females and 71 (43%) males. Although crossbreed dogs were the majority of cases (22.4%), the purebred dog most frequently affected by CAD was the Poodle (12.5%). One hundred and thirty four (81.2%) animals were identified with five or more Favrot criteria, 32.7% animals with six criteria, 26.7% with five criteria, 17.0% with seven criteria and 4.8% with eight criteria. It emphasizes the appearance in more than 90% of criteria, dog living mostly indoors,alesional pruritus, glucocorticoid-responsive pruritus and nonaffected ear margins. Of the 165 animals evaluated, 115 (69.7%) had one or more conditions concomitant with CAD, with otitis externa being the main one (73%). It is considered that the Favrot criteria can be applied for the screening of patients with suspected canine atopic dermatitis treated at HUVET-UFF.