Diagnóstico de leishmaniose por citologia em ponta de orelha em canino – Relato de caso

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a zoonosis of great importance for unique health, there are several diagnostic methods for the disease, however, each has its own characteristics. Among the methods, cytology stands out for its ease of execution, accurate diagnosis and low cost. To objective describe the clinical case and diagnosis of a canine with tegumentary leishmaniasis through cytological examination in the tip of the ear. A canine with a main complaint of skin, eye and epistaxis lesions was seen. During the anamnesis, it was reported that the animal had skin lesions that did not heal, was bumping into objects, anorexia, apathy and adpsia. During the physical examination, alopecia and hypotrichosis in the face region, lymphomegaly, with no change in heart and respiratory rate were identified. Skin scraping and ear tip cytology were requested. The collected material was evaluated under an optical microscope, and in cytology it was possible to identify the presence of red blood cells, associated and defense cells and macrophages engorged with amastigote forms of the Leishmania protozoan and its presence in the extracellular fluid, thus confirming the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. In the skin scraping, the presence of the fungus Microsporum canis was detected, a very common fungus on the skin of dogs, which causes dermatophytosis that can also affect humans. Tip-of-the-ear cytology is a diagnostic method that has proven to be effective by directly detecting the infective forms of the protozoan, which is affordable and simple to perform.