Comparação entre a citopatologia, histopatologia, imunocitoquímica e imuno-histoquímica em diferentes amostras biológicas no diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral canina

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infectious disease caused by pr otozoa of the genus Leishmania, that affects humans and animals. In many countries Leishmaniasis are important public health problem and are included among the six world's most significant endemic diseases. According to literature canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is usuall y characterized by progressive emaciation, anemia, intermittent fever, generalized lymphadenopathy, eye signs (conjunctivitis, keratitis, uveitis) and skin lesions (exfoliative dermatitis, alopecia and ulcers). To grant CVL diagnosis, the identification o f the etiologic agent in biological samples obtained from lesions is primal. S ampling can be obtained from aspirates of liver, spleen, bone marrow, intact skin or lymph nodes. The aim of this study was to compare the cytopathological, histopathological, im munohistochemical and immunocytochemical diagnosis of leishmaniasis in dogs, using as reference the standard parasitological culture. Forty - four dogs with parasitological culture isolation and characterization of Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi isolated an d from samples of intact skin of the ear and / or spleen and / or skin lesion, were included in the study. Subsequently the animals were euthanized and collection of biological samples for citopahatol ogy test (CP), histopathology ( H P ), immunocytochemistry (ICC) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Most dogs were male (61.3%, n = 27). Thirteen dogs (29.5%) were from Rio de Janeiro and 70.5% (n = 31) from Bauru, Brazil. There were 47.7%, ( n = 21) intact dogs, 38.6% (n = 17) dogs in poor general health condition and 11.3% (n = 5) in regular general health state. S kin lesions were observed in 11 (25%) animals. In the C P was possible to identify the amastigotes in 29.5% (n = 13) from scapula scrapings, 29.5% (n = 13) of ear scrapings, 29.5% (n = 13) from snouts scra pings, 45.5% (n = 20) in bone marrow aspirates, 25% (n = 11) in cervical lymph node aspirates and 52.7% (n = 23) in the popliteal lymph node aspirates. In H P amastigotes were detected in 45.5% (n = 20) samples of shoulders , 65.9% (n = 29) snout and 52.3% ( n = 23) the ear healthy skin. In ICQ amastigotes were observed in 47.8% (n = 21) samples from shoulder intact skin, 68.2% (n = 30) intact snout skin, 56.8% (n = 25) intact ear skin , 63.6% (n = 28) in bone marrow aspirates, 36.7% (n = 16) in cervical lymph node aspirates and 68.2% (n = 30) in the popliteal lymph node aspirates. In IHC amastigotes were placed in 52.3% (n = 23) samples from shoulder healthy skin, 88.6% (n = 39) of snout and 72.7% (n = 31) of the ear. IHC from fragments of intact snout skin sho wed higher sensitivity when compared with CP and shaved intact skin of the ear, nose, scapula and skin lesions and lymph node aspirates and bone mar row and also compared with the H P fragments of intact shoulder skin, muzzle and ear . The good sensitivity o f IHC in biological samples obtained from fragments of intact snout skin suggests the use of this technique in parasitological diagnosis for canine leishmaniasis, despite th e higher cost compared to the CP and HP