Search for Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in asymptomatic dogs, attended at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Piauí

Abstract

The present work had as objective to investigate the hemoparasites Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in asymptomatic dogs treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Piauí, Bom Jesus campus. For this purpose, blood samples from the cephalic vein and the ear tip were collected for hemogram and blood smear to investigate hemoparasites in 30 animals that showed no clinical signs of the diseases. The results show that of the 30 evaluated animals, in 1 (3.3%) Babesia spp. in the peripheral blood smear. In none of the animals was Ehrlichia spp., Therefore, no cases of coinfection occurred. Anemia was observed in 18/30 (60%) animals, 82.3% of normochromic normocytic anemia, 5.9% of normocyclic microcytic anemia, 5.9% of hypochromic normocytic anemia and 5.9% of anemia macrocítica hypochromic; Thrombocytopenia was present in 50% of cases, pancytopenia 20%, leucopenia 20% and leukocytosis 16.7%, 10% neutropenia, 13.3% neutrophilia, 30% eosinophilia, 20% eosinopenia, 16, 7% lymphocytosis, 20% lymphocytopenia, 3.3% of monocytosis, and 3.3% of monocytopenia. This study observed the low sensitivity of the parasitological exam of the ear tip in asymptomatic animals, in view of the diagnosis of hemoparasitosis, since only one animal was positive for Babesia spp., Even if there was a hemogram indicating the subclinical presence of the same. Thus, even without finding the agent on the slide, one can not rule out the possibility of the animal having the parasite. Therefore, the use of more sensitive tests such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), indirect immunofluorescence (IFR) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is suggested.