Doenças parasitárias e fúngicas neurotrópicas diagnosticadas em animais de companhia com importância em saúde única

Abstract

Neurotropic parasitic and fungal diseases that are important in One Health, with few exceptions, are rare or underdiagnosed in animals. This study aims to determine the casuistry and pathological aspects of neurotropic parasitic and fungal diseases of companion animals diagnosed in the Veterinary Pathology Sector (SPV) of the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA). The samples used in this study come from a 17-year study (2005-2022) of cases diagnosed in routine diagnostics in Veterinary Pathology. In addition to the casuistry, data on the affected species, sex, age, clinical manifestations, comorbidities, and location of the lesions were described. The diagnosis was based on macroscopic and microscopic lesions, the use of histochemical, immunohistochemical and electronic microscopy techniques, in addition to dissection and morphological evaluation of the parasite, when possible. During the period, 2,626 dogs, 539 cats, 8 gerbils and 10 guinea pig were necropsied, with 35 animals (1.10%) affected by these diseases, with a diagnosis of neurocysticercosis (0.031%) in one dog, 18 cases (16 in canines and two feline) of toxoplasmosis (0.56%), 13 cases (two gerbils, one guinea pig, four cats and six dogs) of cryptococcosis (0.41%) and two cases of phaeohyphomycosis (0.06%) in canines. As a differential diagnosis and of minor importance in single health, a case of neosporosis-like was diagnosed in one dog (0.031%). The results showed toxoplasmosis as the most frequent parasitic infection and cryptococcosis as the fungal infection of the CNS in companion animals, with dogs being the most affected species. In addition, the occurrence, although rare, of a neglected disease such as neurocysticercosis, reinforcing the importance of diagnosis and constant surveillance of these diseases, since humans and animals share the same environment.