Evaluation of renal and hepatic functions in dogs naturally infected by visceral leishmaniasis submitted to treatment with meglumine antimoniate

• Published in: Research in veterinary science Vol. 83; no. 1; pp. 105 - 108
• Main Authors: Ikeda-Garcia, F.A., Lopes, R.S., Ciarlini, P.C., Marques, F.J., Lima, V.M.F., Perri, S.H.V., Feitosa, M.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier India Pvt Ltd 01-08-2007; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: adverse effects; Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents - adverse effects; Antiprotozoal Agents - therapeutic use; death; disease course; dog diseases; Dog Diseases - drug therapy; Dog Diseases - metabolism; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dogs; drug evaluation; drug injection; hepatotoxicity; injection site; Kidney - drug effects; kidneys; Leishmania (L.) infantum; Leishmania infantum; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - drug therapy; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - veterinary; liver; Liver - drug effects; liver function; Meglumine - adverse effects; Meglumine - therapeutic use; Meglumine antimoniate; Organometallic Compounds - adverse effects; Organometallic Compounds - therapeutic use; pain; physiological response; remission; renal function; Side effects; Treatment; urine; Veterinary medicine; visceral leishmaniasis; Side effects; Treatment; Leishmania (L.) infantum; Meglumine antimoniate; Dogs
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2006.10.008

The present study aimed to evaluate the renal and hepatic responses in eight dogs with visceral leishmaniasis submitted to treatment with meglumine antimoniate and to verify the occurrence of possible side effects. Urinalysis, hepatic and renal function tests were carried out in all animals at up to seven moments. After the end of a six-month observation period, all dogs were euthanized. Before the beginning of the experiment urinary and biochemical alterations were observed in four dogs due to the changes caused by the parasite itself. These alterations included the presence of renal cells, cylindruria, proteinuria, azotemia, hyperproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia. One dog died on the third day after treatment because an aggravation of the clinical picture, probably due to the medication. During the course of the study, an increase in hepatic enzymes was verified in two animals. Sixty days after the beginning of the treatment four dogs showed remission of clinical signs. The other three were asymptomatic with persistent biochemical alterations. From these, two presented recurrence of clinical signs about 150 days after the beginning of the treatment while in the other, hyperproteinemia persisted. Meglumine antimoniate was not efficient to treat dogs with severe renal dysfunction and the side effects observed were pain at the site of injection and the probable transient hepatotoxicity, evidenced by biochemical examinations, but without the presence of clinical signs.