RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF HEMATOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN DOGS WITH LEISHMANIASIS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF IGUATU-CE

Abstract

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a zoonotic disease of veterinary and public health importance, caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. Dogs are important reservoirs of the agent in the urban cycle of the disease and may present clinical manifestations and hematological alterations associated with the disease. The present study aimed to investigate the main hematological alterations observed in dogs diagnosed with CVL. A retrospective study was conducted from June to October 2025 through the analysis of 20 complete blood counts from dogs positive for Leishmania spp., treated at the Dog Shop Veterinary Clinic, located in the municipality of Iguatu-CE, whose data were obtained from records covering the period from 2021 to 2025. The data were tabulated and subjected to descriptive analysis of the hematological alterations observed. Among the main findings, anemia, predominantly normocytic normochromic, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, neutrophilia, monocytosis, eosinopenia, and leukocytosis were highlighted. Among the anemic animals, a low regenerative response was observed in most cases. The findings demonstrate the occurrence of relevant hematological alterations in the evaluated dogs, consistent with those described in the literature for CVL. It is concluded that the complete blood count is an important auxiliary tool in the clinical evaluation and monitoring of affected animals, contributing to the identification of hematological alterations associated with the disease.