Anatomopathological findings in dogs naturally infected by Hepatozoon canis

ABSTRACT:

Canine hepatozoonosis is mainly caused by protozoa Hepatozoon canis and H. americanum that are transmitted by ingestion of infected ticks. Clinical signs may be unspecific or difficult to identify, because usually hepatozoonosis occurs associated with other disease. In Brazil, the parasite and the disease, have been identified in several states, however little is known about the clinical and anatomopathological lesions resulting from the infection. This paper reports five cases of natural infection by Hepatozoon canis in dogs from Minas Gerais State and describes for the first time in Brazil the necropsy and histopathological findings related to infection. Meronts of Hepatozoon sp., submitted to morphometric evaluation, were observed in histological sections of liver, spleen, bone marrow and kidney.

INDEX TERMS:
Hepatozoon canis; protozoa; canine disease; necropsy; histopathology.