Relationship between ocular abnormalities and hematologic alterations in patients infected naturally by Ehrlichia canis

Dunia Yisela Trujillo Piso,Monica Yamile Padilla Barreto,Alexandre Lima De Andrade,Maria Del Pilar Sánchez Bonilla

doi:10.1590/0103-8478cr20200651

Dunia Yisela Trujillo Piso, Monica Yamile Padilla Barreto + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20200651

Copy DOI

Abstract

ABSTRACT: To determine the association between ocular abnormalities and hematologic findings in Ehrlichia canis-infected dogs, 120 dogs suspected of canine ehrlichiosis were studied. All patients were subjected to rapid serologic diagnostic test for Ehrlichia canis, and the diagnosis was confirmed by quantitative PCR. PCR-positive patients underwent ophthalmologic examination and a hemogram and were grouped into patients with thrombocytopenia and anemia (G1), patients with thrombocytopenia (G2), and patients without hematologic disorders (G3). For ophthalmic evaluation, the patients were grouped into those having mild, severe, both mild and severe, and no ocular alterations. All patients presented with uveitis (100%). Severe ocular disorders predominated in G1 and G2 patients. Dogs with anemia and leukopenia showed severe ocular disorders. In dogs with a greater number of leukocytes and copies/µl of the TRAG gene, the intraocular pressure (IOP) tends to decrease and vice versa (r = −0.23, r = −0.26). In conclusion, uveitis is the earliest ocular alteration of canine ehrlichiosis. The severity of ocular abnormalities in patients with ehrlichiosis is associated with thrombocytopenia and may be aggravated by anemia and leukopenia. The hemogram and IOP are useful tools for predicting eye involvement in Ehrlichia canis-infected patients. In regions where Ehrlichia canis is endemic, the use of the tonometer should be routinely in dog general consultation.

Highlights

Canine ehrlichiosis is an infectious disease of great importance in the world and is reported more frequently in tropical and subtropical areas, where the presence of the vector is greater (MANNA et al, 2004)
Tortuous retinal vessels were positive; 15.8% presented antibodies for E. canis and Anaplasma spp.; 3.3% were positive for antibodies against Anaplasma spp.; and 26.6% were negative to the test (n = 50)
Ocular alterations It was reported that 89.7% of dogs positive in the PCR analysis presented with ocular disorders, and 17.9% of patients had schirmer tear test (STT) values less than 10 mm

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Canine ehrlichiosis is an infectious disease of great importance in the world and is reported more frequently in tropical and subtropical areas, where the presence of the vector is greater (MANNA et al, 2004). The disease is transmitted through the saliva of the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus or blood transfusions from an infected dog to another susceptible patient (REINE, 2004). Ocular lesions are common in both natural and experimental infections of E. canis, with a prevalence that may vary between 15% and 100% of cases (KOMNENOU et al, 2007; ORIÁ et al, 2008). Hemorrhagic eye disorder may occur in 29.4% of patients infected with E. canis (LEIVA et al, 2005). These disorders are a consequence of the disease, by immune complex deposition in local blood vessels (HARRUS et al, 2001). This study determined the relationship between the hematologic changes and ocular abnormalities reported in patients naturally infected with E. canis

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

Without abnormalities

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION