Prevalence of canine hepatozoonosis in Areia, Paraíba, Brazil

Abstract

Canine hepatozoonosis is a parasitic disease of debilitating nature. Also, it is immunosuppressive and difficult to diagnose clinically. The prevalence of the disease in dogs has been described in several Brazilian states, but studies are still scarce in the Northeast region. Accordingly, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of canine hepatozoonosis in Areia, Paraíba, Brazil. The dogs were clinically examined, and peripheral blood samples were obtained from the tip of the ear. Of the 151 dogs analyzed, 9.3% were positive for Hepatozoon canis by the demonstration of gamonts parasitizing neutrophils. The degree of parasitemia ranged from mild to intense. The observed hematological changes were different between animals and showed no pattern of response to infection. The subclinical form was observed in 50% of dogs and the others had nonspecific clinical signs. We conclude that hepatozoonosis occurs in dogs in the urban area of the city studied and that dogs infected with H. canis show hematological changes and nonspecific clinical signs.

Keywords

• Epidemiology
• Hematology
• Hemoparasite
• Hepatozoon canis