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CAN SPLEEN ASPIRATIONS BE SAFELY USED FOR THE PARASITOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF CANINE VISCERAL LEISHMANIOSIS? A STUDY ON ASSYMPTOMATIC AND POLYSYMPTOMATIC ANIMALS
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of spleen aspiration as a sampling technique for the parasitological detection
by culture and microscopy of Leishmania (chagasi) infantum. Two hundred and nine domiciled dogs from an endemic area for visceral
leishmaniasis in Bahia State, Brazil, were studied.
Most dogs (87%) were seropositive for anti-L. chagasi antibodies by ELISA. Clinical signs of disease were recorded and the animals
monitored during and after spleen puncture in order to detect possible complications associated with the procedure. From a
total of 257 splenic punctures in the 209 animals, only three minor events occurred, with no significant consequence for the animals
and no association with risk factors. Leishmania was isolated from 149/180 (83%) seropositive dogs, and from 6/26 (23%) seronegative
animals. The procedure did not cause adverse side effects or unnecessary suffering and confirmed the diagnosis in a large percentage
of dogs. We conclude that spleen aspiration can be considered an effective and safe procedure for the definitive diagnosis of
canine visceral leishmaniosis.
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