Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bleeding problems linked to liver parasite load in dogs
By Torres, Mariana de Medeiros et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2016·Departamento de Clí·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hemostatic assessment of dogs associated with hepatic parasite load of Leishmania infantum chagasi.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 30 dogs with visceral leishmaniasis (a disease caused by the Leishmania parasite) showed signs of bleeding problems, including longer bleeding times and issues with blood clotting tests. These dogs also had liver inflammation, but researchers found no direct link between the amount of parasites in the liver and the bleeding issues. The study highlighted that the severity of symptoms in these dogs could be influenced by factors like inflammation and organ failure, rather than just the presence of the parasite. Treatment focused on managing the symptoms and supporting the liver function.
People also search for: dog bleeding problems leishmaniasis · symptoms of liver disease in dogs · treatment for dog leishmaniasis
Abstract
Leishmania infantum chagasi liver parasite load was compared to hemostatic abnormalities, as well as to clinical, laboratorial, and histopathological findings in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis. The liver parasite load of 30 dogs L. infantum chagasi naturally-infected was evaluated by quantitative real- time PCR and the results were compared with serum biochemistry and primary and secondary hemostasis findings. Moreover, hepatic histological lesions were described in these dogs. Prolonged bleeding time, prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), were observed in the group with visceral leishmaniasis. Eleven dogs presented inflammatory liver lesions, with predominance of mild multifocal mononuclear periportal hepatitis. No association between the presence of parasites and abnormalities in screening tests was observed by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The clinical progression in leishmaniasis is associated with the occurrence of hemorrhagic diathesis, which depends not only on the presence of the parasite but also the inflammatory process, compromised immunological response, hepatic and renal failure in symptomatic dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27334828/