Aspectos epidemiológicos e clínicos da infecção natural por Trypanosoma cruzi em cães de área endêmica de triatomíneos monitorados pela vigilância epidemiológica no sul do Espírito Santo

Abstract

Chagas' disease (CD) is an anthropozoonosis with high morbidity and mortality, mainly among Latin American endemic countries. The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of CD, may infect several species of triatomines (vectors) and mammals (vertebrate hosts), including the dog. In the state of Espírito Santo (ES) there are few reports of natural infection by T. cruzi amongst dogs. This study aimed to evaluate the serological detection of natural infection by T. cruzi in dogs resident in areas notified with triatomines positive for Trypanosoma spp. between 2014 to 2017 at municipalities of Iconha and Alegre, ES, according to State Secretary of Health of ES (SESA/ES). Parameters of body composition, cardiac function and epidemiological variables were evaluated, such as the location of the animal and updating of the mandatory vaccines. Among the total of 36 dogs, 10 (27.77%) were detected as positives, one borderline (2.79%) and 25 as negatives (69.44%) to T. cruzi infection. Concerning the assessment of body composition using Body Condition Score and Canine Body Mass Index, respectively 58.33% (21/36) and 30.55% (11/36) of the animals were classified as eutrophic. There was no association between body composition and natural infection by T. cruzi (p> 0.05). The district of São Caetano, in the municipality of Iconha, presented a significant risk for the detection of positive serological tests, with a 25 times greater chance for occurrence of natural infection by T. cruzi (OR: 25; p <0.05). Dogs with updated mandatory vaccination showed a lower risk for detection of T. cruzi infection (OR: 0.12; p <0.05). Electrocardiographic changes considered to be more severe were detected only among positive animals, such as sinus arrest. These results demonstrated important characteristics of the detection of natural canine infection byT. cruzi in the municipality of Iconha, mainly in the district of São Caetano.