Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: FRANCESCA DE OLIVEIRA LEMOS

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : FRANCESCA DE OLIVEIRA LEMOS
DATE: 28/08/2025
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: online
TITLE:

Testing for Ehrlichia spp and Leishmania spp in dogs with inflammatory disease of the central nervous system and the association with Meningoencephalomyelitis of Unknown Etiology.

KEY WORDS:

Meningoencephalitis; inflammation; Ehrlichia; Leishmania

PAGES: 76
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Medicina Veterinária
SUBÁREA: Medicina Veterinária Preventiva
SPECIALTY: Doenças Parasitárias de Animais
SUMMARY:

Inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system can cause severe clinical symptoms in dogs and require diagnostic methods such as magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and testing for infectious agents, according to the affected region as to determine lesion extension and etiologic agent to choose the best treatment plan for the animal. The present work aimed at detecting Ehrlichia spp. and Leishmania spp. in dogs, residing in Rio de Janeiro, presenting encephalitis on encephalomyelitis, as to determine if these could be the cause of the neurological condition as well as if their presence could be related to a non-infectious inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, meningoencephalitis of unknow etiology. Nowadays, dogs take part in family life, making the detection of potentially zoonotic agents an important task that also aid in the stablishing proper diagnosis of these illnesses and better treatment options for these pets. Brazil is an endemic country for diseases such as ehrlichiosis and leishmaniosis, both with potential for neurologic presentation but with varying degrees of importance. Frequently, due to the common detection of Ehrlichia spp. in dogs, it is necessary to determine if it can be the cause of the neurological condition or if it is just a hematological finding. Leishmaniosis is increasing in numbers in Brazil but is little tested as the causative agent for neurological conditions, despite its great potential to cause them. Blood samples were collected from 46 dogs presenting inflammatory disease of the central nervous system according to magnetic resonance imaging and/or cerebrospinal fluid analysis, where 2 dogs tested positive to Ehrlichia spp. in qualitative RT-PCR and 2 dogs tested positive to Leishmania spp. in qualitative RT-PCR. In the other dogs, 2 tested positive to canine distemper virus, one of them was suspected of meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology despite presenting antibody titers for canine distemper virus. Among the 46 dogs, excluding the ones positive to Leishmania spp and canine distemper virus, the primary suspect, considering breed, age and complimentary diagnostic exams, was meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE). Statistically, the findings of infectious diseases were not determining to the development of MUE.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Interna - 1148670 - TERESA CRISTINA BERGAMO DO BOMFIM
Externa à Instituição - JULIANA DA SILVA LEITE - UFF
Externa à Instituição - LILIANE MARIA VALENTIM WILLI MONTEIRO - UFF
Externo à Instituição - LUCIANO ANTUNES BARROS - UFF