Rangelia vitalii: changes in the enzymes ALT, CK and AST during the acute phase of experimental infection in dogs

Márcio Machado Costa,Marcelo Bahia Labruna,João Paulo Monteiro Carvalho Mori Da Cunha Cunha,Silvia Gonzalez Monteiro,João Fabio Soares,Francine Paim,Raqueli Teresinha França,Cinthia Melazzo Andrade Mazzanti,Sonia Terezinha Dos Anjos Lopes,Aleksandro Schafer Da Silva,Guilherme Lopes Dornelles,Carlos Breno Paim,Carlos Henrique Do Amaral

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612012000300012

Abstract

Rangelia vitalii is a protozoon that causes diseases in dogs, and anemia is the most common laboratory finding. However, few studies on the biochemical changes in dogs infected with this protozoon exist. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the biochemical changes in dogs experimentally infected with R. vitalii, during the acute phase of the infection. For this study, 12 female dogs (aged 6-12 months and weighing between 4 and 7 kg) were used, divided in two groups. Group A was composed of healthy dogs (n = 5); and group B consisted of infected animals (n = 7). Blood samples were collected on days 0, 10, 20 and 30 after infection, using tubes without anticoagulant to obtain serum and analyze the biochemical parameters. An increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) on day 20 (P < 0.05) was observed. Also, increased creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were observed throughout the experimental period (P < 0.05). No changes in the serum gamma-glutamyltransferase, urea and creatinine levels were observed. Thus, is possible to conclude that experimental infection with R. vitalii in dogs causes changes to the biochemical profile, with increased ALT, AST and CK enzyme levels.

Highlights

Rangelia vitalii is a protozoon of the phylum Apicomplexa, order Piroplasmorida, which is transmitted by the ticks that causes a disease in dogs known as “nambiuvú” or “dog yellow fever”
It is known that ticks of the species Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Amblyomma aureolatum are responsible for transmission, since animals affected by the disease had contact with ticks (LORETTI; BARROS, 2005)
Studies on biochemical changes are of significant importance, since they help in making the differential diagnosis of rangeliosis in comparison with other diseases of similar clinical course, such as babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, leishmaniasis and leptospirosis, which are often confused with infection by R. vitalii (LORETTI; BARROS, 2004)

Summary

Introduction

Rangelia vitalii is a protozoon of the phylum Apicomplexa, order Piroplasmorida, which is transmitted by the ticks that causes a disease in dogs known as “nambiuvú” or “dog yellow fever”. It is known that ticks of the species Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Amblyomma aureolatum are responsible for transmission, since animals affected by the disease had contact with ticks (LORETTI; BARROS, 2005). This parasite mainly affects young dogs, and usually dogs that are used for hunting, a situation that increases the chance of direct contact with these ticks (FRANÇA et al, 2010). The present study aimed to investigate biochemical changes in dogs experimentally infected with R. vitalii

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Conclusion