Behavior of biochemical markers of hepatic injury in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the changes in biochemical markers of liver damage in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania sp. according to different forms presented. Blood sample of 41 dogs were seropositive in ELISA test and positive in the immunoassay tests and lymph node parasitological were collected by venipuncture of the jugular vein and placed in tube without anticoagulant to obtain serum and measurement of total cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, total protein and albumin. Stratification was held in groups, according to clinical symptoms in asymptomatic (7/41), oligosymptomatic (15/41) and symptomatic (19/41). Hyperglobulinemia, hyperproteinemia and decreased the ratio A:G were observed in all groups, and no statistically significant difference between symptomatic animals in relation to others was observed for albumin (2.87 ± 0.45 g / dL). The average cholesterol values, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and gamma glutamyl transferase remained within normal ranges, however, elevated serum triglycerides were observed in the symptomatic group (276.89 ± 339.49) and asymptomatic (307.81 ± 56.74). Common alterations in biochemical markers of liver damage suggest that visceral leishmaniasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of liver disease, since hypergammaglobulinemia and hypoalbuminemia were observed regardless of the clinical signs of disease carriers shown by dogs. Moreover, the finding hypocholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in these animals, sum up to the hepatic disorders associated with leishmaniasis.