Evaluation of Cardiopulmonary biomarkers during different stages of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis

Objective.The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that cardiac alterations participate within different stages of CVL. Materials and methods. Dogs were diagnosed with CVL, were classified as follows; group I (mild disease), group II (moderate disease), group III (severe disease), group IV (very severe disease) and group V included healthy controls. Results. Ig G antibodies against Leishmaniasis in group as tested by IFAT, were deemed 1/64 to 1/16000 among infected groups. Considering the cTnI levels, there were significant differences (p=0.018) between stage IV (group IV) and healthy control group, besides between group IV and group I. Considering D-dimer levels, there was difference between healthy control group and group II, III and IV (p=0.005). Regareing NT-pro BNP levels, there were differences between healthy control group and stage III, IV, besides between stage I with stage III, IV (p=0.000). Conclusions. The results showed that levels of cTnI, Nt pro-BNP and D-dimer were higher in dogs infected with CVL in contrast to healthy dogs, in which levels of those biomarkers were below detection limits. Obtained results suggested the possibility of cTnI and NT pro-BNP as markers for cardiac damage and D-dimer as a supportive tool for a diagnosis of probable thromboembolism in dogs with CVL.