Avaliação das lesões inflamatórias e da carga parasitária em órgãos do sistema genital masculino e feminino de cães com infecção natural por Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum (Nicolle, 1908)

Abstract

The canine visceral leishmaniasis is an important parasitic zoonosis endemic in Brazil, caused by protozoa Leishmania infantum. In urban areas, dogs are considered the main reservoir of this parasite, in which the inflammatory lesions observed in tissues and organs may be related with parasite presence, including the genital system. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the inflammatory lesions and parasite load in the genital tract of dogs naturally infected with L. infantum. Thus, tissue samples collected from 12 female dogs and 19 dogs naturally infected by L. infantum from the municipalities of Caruaru and Petrolina, Pernambuco, respectively. Fragments of vulva, vagina, cervix, uterine body and horns and ovaries of the females and testes, epididymis, prostate, glans penis, prepuce and scrotum of the males were collected for structural assessment, immunohistochemistry and molecular. In the present study, vulva and vagina were the major sites to inflammatory lesion development and L. infantum amastigotes immunostaining in the reproductive tract of female dogs. Moreover, in the reproductive tract of male dogs: epididymis, prostate, glans penis, prepuce and scrotum showed lympho-histio-plasmacytic inflammatory lesion. L. infantum amastigotes immunolabeling just was visualized in testes, epididymis, glans penis and scrotum. In both sexes, there is no correlation between parasite load and inflammatory lesion on the genitals.