HEMATOLOGICAL CHANGES IN DIFFERENT CLINICAL FORMS AS A COMPLEMENTARY DIAGNOSTIC TOOL IN CANINE LEISHMANIASIS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the alterations in hematology parameters in relations to the different clinical forms in seropositive dogs to Leishmania infantum (L. infantum). Thirty seropositive dogs for Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) confirmed with an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), according to the clinical signs were allocated to three equal groups: asymptomatic (AD), oligosymptomatic (OD) and symptomatic dogs (SD). Blood samples were collected for hematology parameters analysis in all groups. A significant anemic profile was observed in the SD that correlates to the presence of specific symptoms in SD. Reduced granulocytes count and percentage in the SD and increased number of lymphocytes in the OD indicates on the complexity of immune response in the different clinical forms of CanL. The hematological changes can be considered a useful complementary tool for further evaluation of disease progression and prognosis in different clinical forms of CanL.