DOENÇA DE CHAGAS EM CÃES

Chagas disease, also called American trypanosomiasis, is an anthropozoonosis caused by the flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The transmission occurs in several ways, and the most reported are: the vector form, which occurs when the patient inoculates the feces of the vector infected by the trypanosome, through the hole that was opened during the blood meal, or orally, mainly due to the ingestion of food contaminated with trypanosome. Different species of domestic and wild animals can be affected by the disease; however, this study aims to describe the disease in dogs, which are capable of developing the chronic course, just like humans, and are also important public health indicators  for the disease, since they are animals considered sentinels to its appearance.A doença de Chagas, também chamada de tripanossomíase americana, é uma antropozoonose causada por um protozoário flagelado denominado Trypanosoma cruzi. A transmissão ocorre de diversas maneiras, sendo as mais relatadas: a forma vetorial, que ocorre quando o paciente inocula as fezes do vetor infectadas pelo tripanossomo por meio do orifício que foi aberto no momento do repasto sanguíneo, ou por via oral, devido principalmente a ingestão de alimentos contaminados com o tripanossomo. Diferentes espécies de animais domésticos e silvestres podem ser acometidas pela doença; contudo, o objetivo deste trabalho é descrever a doença em cães os quais são capazes de desenvolver o curso crônico, assim como os humanos, e são importantes marcadores de saúde pública para a doença, tendo em vista que são animais considerados sentinelas para o seu aparecimento

Effect of mesenchymal stem cell therapy on the proteinuria of dogs with chronic kidney disease

A proteinúria de origem renal é um indicador de lesão e atua na progressão da doença renal crônica em cães. Na rotina clínica, várias são as recomendações em relação à terapia de manutenção, que visam minimizar ou retardar a progressão da doença. Com o recente progresso na pesquisa sobre a terapia com as células tronco mesenquimais (CTM), tem-se discutido sobre a possibilidade de minimização dos mecanismos inflamatórios e imunológicos de autoperpetuação da lesão renal com a sua utilização, assim a análise sequencial das proteínas urinárias por métodos qualitativos, tais como a eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (SDS-PAGE) e a imunodetecção das proteínas por Western Blot pode trazer subsídios para esta avaliação. Portanto, como hipótese, suscita-se que a administração de CTM em cães com DRC possa trazer benefícios com o intuito de minimizar o desenvolvimento da proteinúria, contribuindo para o retardo na velocidade de progressão da doença renal. Trata-se de um estudo prospectivo, longitudinal e duplo-cego em que foram avaliados 22 cães com DRC, tratados com solução fisiológica (SF) ou CTM e avaliados a cada 30 a 45 dias em 12 momentos, divididos em grupos de acordo com o estágio da doença, grupo A (estágio 2, SF:n=6, CTM:n=3) e grupo B (estágio 3, SF:n=6, CTM:n=7). Observou-se que os cães do Grupo B apresentaram proteinúria mais intensa, maior porcentagem de proteínas de alto peso molecular, maior imunodetecção de albumina, proteínas ligadas ao retinol e a vitamina D e menor imunodetecção de proteína de Tamm-Horsfall ao longo do acompanhamento, quando comparado ao Grupo A. Os resultados obtidos nesse estudo não permitiram definir conclusões contundentes de que a terapia com a CTM tenha trazido alterações importantes que indicassem o seu benefício. Os dados sugerem que os cães nos estágios iniciais da DRC (estágio 2) poderiam ser os mais favorecidos com a referida terapia, entretanto mais estudos contemplando um número maior de animais, como o maior tempo de acompanhamento devem ser conduzidos para tal investigação.Protein of renal origin is an indicator of injury and acts on the progression of chronic kidney disease in dogs. In the clinical routine, several recommendations regarding maintenance therapy are aimed at minimizing or delaying the progression of the disease. With the recent progress in the research on mesenchymal stem cell therapy (CTM), it has been discussed the possibility of minimizing the inflammatory and immunological mechanisms of self-perpetuation of the renal lesion with its use, thus the sequential analysis of the urinary proteins by qualitative methods such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the immunodetection of proteins by Western blot can prove the efficacy of the therapy. Therefore, as hypothesis, it is suggested that the administration of CTM in dogs with CKD can fetch benefits in order to minimize the development of proteinuria, contributing to the delay in the rate of progression of renal disease. This is a prospective, longitudinal, double-blind study in which 22 dogs with CKD were treated with physiological solution (SF) or CTM and evaluated every 30 to 45 days in 12 moments divided into groups according to (stage 2, SF: n = 6, CTM: n = 3) and group B (stage 3, SF: n = 6, CTM: n = 7). Group B dogs were found to have more intense proteinuria, a higher percentage of high molecular weight proteins, greater albumin immunodetection as well as retinol-binding protein and vitamin D-binding protein, and decreased Tamm-Horsfall protein immunodetection throughout follow-up, when compared to Group A. The results obtained in this study did not allow to draw conclusive conclusions that CTM therapy brought important changes that indicated its benefit. The data suggest that dogs in the early stages of CKD (stage 2) could be the most favored with such therapy, however more studies contemplating a larger number of animals, such as longer follow-up, should be conducted for such investigation

Effect of mesenchymal stem cell therapy on the proteinuria of dogs with chronic kidney disease

A proteinúria de origem renal é um indicador de lesão e atua na progressão da doença renal crônica em cães. Na rotina clínica, várias são as recomendações em relação à terapia de manutenção, que visam minimizar ou retardar a progressão da doença. Com o recente progresso na pesquisa sobre a terapia com as células tronco mesenquimais (CTM), tem-se discutido sobre a possibilidade de minimização dos mecanismos inflamatórios e imunológicos de autoperpetuação da lesão renal com a sua utilização, assim a análise sequencial das proteínas urinárias por métodos qualitativos, tais como a eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (SDS-PAGE) e a imunodetecção das proteínas por Western Blot pode trazer subsídios para esta avaliação. Portanto, como hipótese, suscita-se que a administração de CTM em cães com DRC possa trazer benefícios com o intuito de minimizar o desenvolvimento da proteinúria, contribuindo para o retardo na velocidade de progressão da doença renal. Trata-se de um estudo prospectivo, longitudinal e duplo-cego em que foram avaliados 22 cães com DRC, tratados com solução fisiológica (SF) ou CTM e avaliados a cada 30 a 45 dias em 12 momentos, divididos em grupos de acordo com o estágio da doença, grupo A (estágio 2, SF:n=6, CTM:n=3) e grupo B (estágio 3, SF:n=6, CTM:n=7). Observou-se que os cães do Grupo B apresentaram proteinúria mais intensa, maior porcentagem de proteínas de alto peso molecular, maior imunodetecção de albumina, proteínas ligadas ao retinol e a vitamina D e menor imunodetecção de proteína de Tamm-Horsfall ao longo do acompanhamento, quando comparado ao Grupo A. Os resultados obtidos nesse estudo não permitiram definir conclusões contundentes de que a terapia com a CTM tenha trazido alterações importantes que indicassem o seu benefício. Os dados sugerem que os cães nos estágios iniciais da DRC (estágio 2) poderiam ser os mais favorecidos com a referida terapia, entretanto mais estudos contemplando um número maior de animais, como o maior tempo de acompanhamento devem ser conduzidos para tal investigação.Protein of renal origin is an indicator of injury and acts on the progression of chronic kidney disease in dogs. In the clinical routine, several recommendations regarding maintenance therapy are aimed at minimizing or delaying the progression of the disease. With the recent progress in the research on mesenchymal stem cell therapy (CTM), it has been discussed the possibility of minimizing the inflammatory and immunological mechanisms of self-perpetuation of the renal lesion with its use, thus the sequential analysis of the urinary proteins by qualitative methods such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the immunodetection of proteins by Western blot can prove the efficacy of the therapy. Therefore, as hypothesis, it is suggested that the administration of CTM in dogs with CKD can fetch benefits in order to minimize the development of proteinuria, contributing to the delay in the rate of progression of renal disease. This is a prospective, longitudinal, double-blind study in which 22 dogs with CKD were treated with physiological solution (SF) or CTM and evaluated every 30 to 45 days in 12 moments divided into groups according to (stage 2, SF: n = 6, CTM: n = 3) and group B (stage 3, SF: n = 6, CTM: n = 7). Group B dogs were found to have more intense proteinuria, a higher percentage of high molecular weight proteins, greater albumin immunodetection as well as retinol-binding protein and vitamin D-binding protein, and decreased Tamm-Horsfall protein immunodetection throughout follow-up, when compared to Group A. The results obtained in this study did not allow to draw conclusive conclusions that CTM therapy brought important changes that indicated its benefit. The data suggest that dogs in the early stages of CKD (stage 2) could be the most favored with such therapy, however more studies contemplating a larger number of animals, such as longer follow-up, should be conducted for such investigation

Sequential evaluation of proteinuria in dogs with pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism during the therapy with trilostane

O hiperadrenocorticismo é uma das endocrinopatias mais frequentes em cães. As manifestações clínicas e as lesões associadas com o hiperadrenocorticismo resultam primariamente da hipercortisolemia crônica. Várias são as alterações clínicas observadas em diversos sistemas orgânicos, como também as laboratoriais que ocorrem como consequência dos efeitos gliconeogênico, lipolítico, catabólico, protéico e anti-inflamatório dos glicocorticóides. No que concerne aos rins, a hipercortisolemia crônica pode causar lesão do glomérulo, como também esta estrutura pode sér comprometida secundariamente pela hipertensão arterial sistêmica e, assim, evoluir para doença renal crônica. Neste estudo foram avaliados 10 cães normotensos com hiperadrenocorticismo hipófise dependente, antes e após a terapia com trilostano, com o intuito de verificar a existência ou não de proteinúria patológica pelos métodos quantitativos (razão proteína-creatinina urinária) e qualitativos (eletroforese de proteínas urinárias), como também de acompanhar a intensidade da mesma ao longo da evolução da doença e do curso da terapia. A principal lesão renal detectada nos cães com HAC foi no segmento tubular, constatada pelo predomínio de bandas de proteínas urinárias de baixo peso molecular, indicando o comprometimento na absorção dessas proteínas no segmento proximal do néfron, sendo que a presença dessas bandas perduraram ao longo da terapia, mesmo quando as concentrações séricas de cortisol diminuíram gradativamente após a terapia com trilostano. Ainda, o bom controle do hiperadrenocorticismo pela terapia e a pressão arterial sistêmcia dentro dos valores de normalidade podem ter contribuído para a prevenção do desenvolvimento de lesão glomerular.Hyperadrenocorticism is one of the most common endocrine disorders in dogs. Clinical sings and organs lesions associated with hyperadrenocorticism result primarily from chronic hypercortisolemia. There are several clinical changes observed in different organ systems, as well as laboratory alterations that occur as a result of the effects of gluconeogenic, lipolytic, catabolic, protein and anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids. Regarding to the kidneys, chronic hypercortisolemia can cause damage to the glomerulus, but also that structure may be compromised by secondary hypertension and, thus, evolve into chronic kidney disease. This study evaluated 10 normotensive dogs with pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism, before and after therapy with trilostane, in order to verify the existence of pathological proteinuria by quantitative (urinary protein-to-creatipine) and qualitative (urinary protein electrophoresis) methods, and also to monitor its intensity over the course of the disease and therapy. The main renal lesion detected in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism was in the tubular segment, evidenced by the prevalence of urinary protein bands of lower molecular weight, indicating the lack absorption of these proteins in the proximal segment of the nephron. Low molecular weight proteins persisted throughout therapy, even when serum cortisol concentrations gradually decreased after treatment with trilostane. Moreover, good control of hyperadrenocorticism and blood pressure within the normal range may have contributed to the prevention ofthe development of glomerular injury

Urinary Fractional Excretion of Phosphorus in Dogs with Spontaneous Chronic Kidney Disease

The increase of urinary fractional excretion of phosphorus (uFEP) may indicate phosphorus retention before the onset of hyperphosphatemia in the early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The hypothesis of this study is whether uFEP may increase during the early stage of CKD as a compensatory mechanism to prevent hyperphosphatemia as well as whether hyperphosphatemia in the late stages is associated with increase or decrease in uFEP in dogs with naturally occurring CKD; therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the uFEP in CKD dogs with different stages. Forty-nine CKD dogs were included, and they were divided into stage 1 (serum creatinine < 1.4 mg/dL), stage 2 (serum creatinine 1.5 to 2.0 mg/dL), stage 3 (serum creatinine 2.1 to 5.0 mg/dL) and stage 4 (serum creatinine > 5.0 mg/dL), according to the IRIS staging criteria. The stage 3 was subdivided into stage 3-A (serum creatinine 2.1 to 3.5 mg/dL) and stage 3-B (serum creatinine 3.6 to 5.0 mg/dL). The control group comprised 10 dogs, and uFEP ≤ 40% was considered as normal. A progressive increase in uFEP along the progression of CKD was found. However, similar results of uFEP levels were observed in late CKD, since there were no differences between stages 3 (A, B) and 4. Interestingly, some CKD dogs with stage 4 showed normal or reduced uFEP, besides hyperphosphatemia; conversely, some dogs in early CKD had increased uFEP values and normophosphatemia. Our findings suggest that uFEP may act as a compensatory mechanism to avoid the onset of hyperphosphatemia in early CKD, but not in later stages. uFEP assessment may be considered as an additional tool for the diagnostic and monitoring of phosphate disorders in dogs with CKD, since it may help to identify disturbances of phosphorus balance. More studies are needed to elucidate the role of uFEP in phosphorus homeostasis in dogs with CKD

Evaluation of Serum and Urine Amino Acids in Dogs with Chronic Kidney Disease and Healthy Dogs Fed a Renal Diet

This observational study aimed to evaluate serum and urinary amino acid (AA) concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) fed a commercial therapeutic renal diet with reduced protein and phosphorus levels. Ten dogs with CKD stages 3 or 4 composed the study group and received the renal diet for 180 days (RG T180). A control group (CG T30) composed of seven healthy dogs was fed a renal diet for 30 days. When comparing serum AA between RG T180 and CG T30, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, cysteine, citrulline, ornithine, taurine, branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), and total essential amino acids (EAA) were higher in RG T180. Meanwhile, arginine, asparagine, aspartate, glutamine, serine, and tyrosine were higher in CG T30. Serum phenylalanine, tryptophan, and hydroxyproline were higher in RG T0 (dogs with CKD before consuming a renal diet) when compared to RG T180. In addition, the serum ratios of arginine/citrulline, tyrosine/phenylalanine, and serine/glycine were higher in CG T30 than in RG T180. Concerning urinary AA concentrations in CKD dogs, isoleucine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, aspartate, cysteine, and BCAA were higher in RG T180. In urine, the total EAA/total non-essential AA ratio in RG T180 was higher than in CG T30 as well as tyrosine/phenylalanine ratio higher in CG T30. In conclusion, the combination of renal diet and conservative treatment over 6 months in dogs with CKD stages 3 or 4 affected the AAs metabolism when compared to healthy adult dogs