Abstract

CORRELATION OF HEMATOLOGICAL AND CYTOKINE PARAMETERS WITH BLOOD VISCOSITY ACCORDING TO SEX OF DOGS POSITIVE FOR CANINE VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS

Luana Paula Sales Silva, José Nivaldo da Silva, Saulo Pereira Cardoso, Aron Carlos de Melo Cotrim, Danny Laura Gomes Fagundes-Triches, Patrícia Gelli Feres de Marchi, Valéria Régia Franco Sousa, Adenilda Cristina Honório-França and Eduardo Luzia França*

ABSTRACT

Visceral Leishmaniasis is caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania and is considered a neglected tropical disease. The increasing expansion of Visceral Leishmaniasis in The Brazilian territory evidences the need for studies to monitor dogs with visceral Leishmaniasis. Rheometric tests aim to evaluate the flow and deformation of materials, including biological ones, under restrictions applied to physical properties, transport, movement, and blood viscosity. Hemorheology can be influenced by several factors, such as hematocrit, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte deformation, and erythrocyte aggregation. However, leukocytes and cytokines are also rheologically important for microcirculatory flow. Studies have shown variations in viscosity rates in several diseases and have been used in diagnosing and monitoring infections. In Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis, studies are scarce. It is unprecedented in the scientific literature to study the correlation of hematological parameters and cytokines with viscosity according to sex of the dogs. Here, a correlation was observed between viscosity, hematocrit, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha. New studies should be conducted to develop treatment strategies taking into account the sex of dogs infected with Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Keywords: Rheology, Hematocrit, Viscosity, Dogs, Leishmania.