The importance of cardiological examinations in dogs with leishmaniasis: a systematic review

Resumo

Leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease, can lead to cardiac dysfunction characterized by significant alterations in cardiac enzyme levels. Elevated enzyme concentrations indicate tissue damage and impaired cardiovascular function. This systematic review analyzed the primary cardiovascular tests used to assess changes in dogs infected with Leishmania sp. Full articles and short communications published between 2000 and 2023 that focused on cardiac enzyme measurement, leishmaniasis, echocardiography, blood pressure, and electrocardiography were included. PubMed, Sci-Hub, Google Scholar, and SciELO databases were searched, excluding conference proceedings and technical manuals. Of the 122 identified studies, 29 met the inclusion criteria. Results indicate that parasitism causes substantial changes in cardiac enzymes and hypertension is prevalent in infected dogs. Additionally, electrocardiograms frequently reveal atrioventricular blocks, while echocardiograms often show dilated heart chambers and decreased cardiac contractility in dogs with leishmaniasis.