Rangelia vitalii: changes in the enzymes ALT, CK and AST during the acute phase of experimental infection in dogs

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria 2012-07, Vol.21 (3), p.243-248
• Main Authors: Costa, Márcio Machado, França, Raqueli Teresinha, Da Silva, Aleksandro Schafer, Paim, Carlos Breno, Paim, Francine, do Amaral, Carlos Henrique, Dornelles, Guilherme Lopes, da Cunha, João Paulo Monteiro Carvalho Mori, Soares, João Fabio, Labruna, Marcelo Bahia, Mazzanti, Cinthia Melazzo Andrade, Monteiro, Silvia Gonzalez, Lopes, Sonia Terezinha Dos Anjos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Creatine Kinase - blood; Dog Diseases - blood; Dog Diseases - enzymology; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dogs; Female; PARASITOLOGY; Protozoan Infections, Animal - blood; Protozoan Infections, Animal - enzymology; VETERINARY SCIENCES
• ISSN: 1984-2961; 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612012000300012

Rangelia vitalii is a protozoon that causes diseases in dogs, and anemia is the most common laboratory finding. However, few studies on the biochemical changes in dogs infected with this protozoon exist. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the biochemical changes in dogs experimentally infected with R. vitalii, during the acute phase of the infection. For this study, 12 female dogs (aged 6-12 months and weighing between 4 and 7 kg) were used, divided in two groups. Group A was composed of healthy dogs (n = 5); and group B consisted of infected animals (n = 7). Blood samples were collected on days 0, 10, 20 and 30 after infection, using tubes without anticoagulant to obtain serum and analyze the biochemical parameters. An increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) on day 20 (P < 0.05) was observed. Also, increased creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were observed throughout the experimental period (P < 0.05). No changes in the serum gamma-glutamyltransferase, urea and creatinine levels were observed. Thus, is possible to conclude that experimental infection with R. vitalii in dogs causes changes to the biochemical profile, with increased ALT, AST and CK enzyme levels.