Clinical and laboratorial profile of renal impairment and renal injury in dogs with leptospirosis

• Grant number: 23/16806-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2024
• End date: March 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Chicharo Chacar
• Grantee: Danielle Conceição Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis in the world and has a seasonal character with greater occurrence in periods of rain and flooding, which is heightened by the climate changes currently observed, leading to an increase in the population's susceptibility to contact with the pathogen. Kidney disorders, especially acute kidney injury, are considered a constant in dogs affected by this disease, as they are clinically manifested by uremia, oliguria, systemic arterial hypertension, lethargy, anorexia and emesis. In addition to the aforementioned clinical manifestations, the use of laboratory markers makes it possible to identify renal changes caused by Leptospira spp., with urea, creatine and Symmetry Dimethylarginine (SDMA) being indirect markers that reflect the glomerular filtration function. In association with clinical and laboratory markers of function, the use of markers of kidney damage should be considered, which can be assessed through urinalysis and the measurement of the urinary protein:creatinine ratio. In the latter case, measuring the magnitude of proteinuria is an efficient parameter for detecting kidney damage in dogs with leptospirosis, which can also be indicated by normoglycemic glycosuria. Given the clinical relevance of leptospirosis in dogs, and considering the role of this zoonosis in the context of single health, the present study aims to identify the main changes in clinical and laboratory markers of kidney injury and dysfunction in dogs suspected and visible with leptospirosis , as well as correlating such findings with the patient's outcome (death, euthanasia or survival). To this end, a retrospective survey (February/2013- September/2023) and prospective monitoring (September/2023- July/2024) of the clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters of suspected and observed cases treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science at the University of São Paulo (HOVET - USP).