Histological alterations in the pancreas of dogs with visceral Leishmaniasis from Araçatuba - SP

• Grant number: 12/20462-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology
• Principal Investigator: Daniela Bernadete Rozza
• Grantee: Bárbara da Costa Osório
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMVA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a systemic disease caused by Leishmania chagasi in the American continent. Usually, visceral leishmaniasis in animals is seen as a debilitating and chronic illness with periods of fever, gradual weight loss, anemia, and enlarged lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. The affected animals may show skin changes, renal, hepatic, onychogryphosis, interstitial pneumonia, myocarditis, locomotor disorders, hemorrhagic diathesis, and ocular abnormalities. In a report of human visceral leishmaniasis (LVH) associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), no description of changes in the structure of the pancreas, pancreatic atrophy, and severe decrease in zymogen granules, nuclear abnormalities, and discrete presence of amastigotes of Leishmania interstitial macrophages. In dogs with visceral leishmaniasis, existing accounts associated Leishmania (L. infantum) and antimoniate N-methylglucamine (Glucantime ®) as causes of pancreatitis. However, there are no studies that describe the possible histopathological changes in the pancreas of infected animals. This study aims to observe the histopathological changes in the pancreas of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis, from the city of Araçatuba - SP.(AU)