Parasitoses caninas transmitidas por ixodídeos

This thesis concerns the period between September 2007 and January 2008, during which took place the curricular training of the Integrated Master degree in Veterinary Medicine, at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital. In this training, it was possible to follow a diverse caseload in the Small Animal’s Medicine field, including cases regarding the selected subject “Canine tick-borne parasitic diseases”. There are many tick-borne parasitic diseases, sensu latu, which can affect dogs. The ones caused by species of the genera Rickettsia, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Theileria, are reviewed and discussed. Typically, these diseases are characterised by non-specific clinical signs like fever, lethargy and anorexia. Other signs may be apparent, including weight loss, pale mucous membranes, lymphadenomegaly, lameness, icterus, hepatosplenomegaly, subcutaneous oedema, urine discoloration, bleeding tendencies, ocular and neurological signs. The most consistent laboratory abnormality is thrombocytopenia, but anemia, hypoalbuminemia and hyperglobulinemia are also common. The diagnosis is based on serologic, molecular and/or optical microscopy methods. Specific treatment of choice includes doxycycline and minocycline, for rickettsiosis, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis. Imidocarb and diminazene are indicated for babesiosis and theileriosis. Vector control represents the primary mean of prevention for these diseases. At present, vaccination is available against B. canis only. In addition, it is important to highlight that some of these canine diseases also have a zoonotic feature. On the subject of the selected theme, it was carried out a study involving 28 dogs, showing previous exposure to Rickettsia spp. (23/26), B. canis (14/24), Ehrlichia sp. (10/24) and A. platys (1/1), determined by indirect immunofluorescence, polimerase chain reaction or optical microscopy. The general description of the population, the epidemiological and clinical aspects and, the challenge in diagnosing canine tick-born parasitosis when concurrent diseases are present, were discussed.