Visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil is caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi and the dog is its most important reservoir. The clinical features in dogs include loss of weight, lymphadenopathy, renal failure, skin lesions, fever, hypergammaglobulinemia, hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, and, rarely, neurological symptoms. Most infected animals develop active disease, characterized by high anti-leishmania antibody titers and depressed lymphoproliferative ability. Antibody production is not primarily important for protection but might be involved in the pathogenesis of tissue lesions. An ELISA test was used to determine if there is an association between neurological symptoms and the presence of anti-L. chagasi antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Thirty serum and CSF samples from symptomatic mixed breed dogs (three with neurological symptoms) from a region of high incidence of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil were examined for antibody using total parasite antigen and anti-dog IgG peroxidase conjugate. A high level of L. chagasi antibodies was observed in sera (mean absorbance ± SD, 1.939 ± 0.405; negative control, N = 20, 0.154 ± 0.074) and CSF (1.571 ± 0.532; negative control, N = 10, 0.0195 ± 0.040) from all animals studied. This observation suggests that L. chagasi can cause breakdown of filtration barriers and the transfer of antibodies and antigens from the blood to the CSF compartment. No correlation was observed between antibody titer in CSF and neurological symptoms.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a padronização dos valores de referência de velocidade de condução nervosa sensitiva dos nervos tibial e peroneal em cães clinicamente sadios, pela utilização de eletrodos de superfície. Em todos os sítios de estimulação, captação, referência e terra foram utilizados eletrodos do "tipo jacaré", exceto na captação do estímulo no nervo peroneal, próximo à articulação fêmur-tibial, onde o registro só foi possível com a utilização de eletrodo de agulha. Foram utilizados 30 cães, 11 machos e 19 fêmeas, sem raça definida, com idade entre dois e seis anos. Os valores médios das medidas dos potenciais evocados pela estimulação sensitiva dos nervos tibial e peroneal foram: latência inicial, 1,82±0,30ms (1,30 a 2,55ms) e 1,57±0,29ms (1,01 a 2,16ms), amplitude de pico a pico, 96,48±45,78miV (41,6 a 214miV) e 121,25±57,49miV (54,8 a 299miV) e duração, 1,97±0,69ms (1,01 a 3,56ms) e 2,37±0,85ms (1,11 a 3,94ms), respectivamente. Os valores médios das medidas de velocidade de condução nervosa sensitiva dos nervos tibial e peroneal foram, respectivamente, 62,14+7,71ms (50,0 a 77,2ms) e 65,18+6,42ms (53,8 a 79,2ms), respectivamente.

The standard values for the sensory conductance velocity of tibial and peroneal nerves of healthy dogs, using surface electrodes was determined. All the stimulating, recording, reference and ground electrodes were alligator clips, except for the recording electrode in the peroneal nerve, placed near the stifle joint, which consisted of a hypodermic needle. Thirty dogs of mixed breeds, 11 males and 19 females, aged between two and six years, were used. Sensory nerve action potentials from stimulation of the tibial and peroneal nerves averages were: for latency 1.82+0.30ms (1.30 to 2.55ms) and 1.57±0.29ms (1.01 to 2.16ms); for amplitude 96.48+45.78muV (41.6 to 214muV) and 121.25±57.49muV (54.8 to 299muV); and for duration 1.97+0.69ms (1.01 to 3.56ms) and 2.37±0.85ms (1.11 to 3.94ms), respectively. Sensory conduction velocity averages were: 62.14+7.71ms (50.0 to 77.2ms) and 65.18+6.42ms (53.8 to 79.2ms) for tibial and peroneal nerves, respectively.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a padronização dos valores de referência de velocidade de condução nervosa motora dos nervos radial e ulnar em cães clinicamente sadios. Para tanto, foram utilizados 30 cães, 11 machos e 19 fêmeas, sem raça definida, com idade entre dois e seis anos. Os valores médios das medidas do potencial muscular produzidos por meio de estimulação proximal e distal do nervo radial foram, respectivamente: latência inicial, 2,46+0,72ms e 1,58+0,62ms, amplitude de pico a pico, 8,79+2,26mV e 9,52+2,42mV e duração, 2,85+0,76ms e 2,71+0,75ms. Os respectivos valores do nervo ulnar foram: latência inicial, 4,17+0,53ms e 2,67+0,38ms; amplitude de pico a pico, 10,72+2,60mV e 11,72+2,81mV e duração, 2,23+0,38ms e 2,04+0,35ms. Os valores médios das medidas de velocidade de condução nervosa motora dos nervos radial e ulnar foram, respectivamente, 66,18+7,26m/s e 60,50+7,86m/s.

The radial and ulnar nerves were examined electrophysiologically in 30 normal mongrel dogs, 11 males and 19 females, aged between two and six years. The proximal and distal evoked muscle potentials of motor stimulation of the radial nerve had an average latency of 2.46+0.72ms and 1.58+0.62ms, an average amplitude of 8.79+2.26mV and 9.52+2.42mV, and an average duration of 2.85+0.76ms and 2.71+0.75ms, respectively. The proximal and distal evoked muscle potentials of motor stimulation of the ulnar nerve had an average latency of 4.17+0.53ms and 2.67+0.38ms, an average amplitude of 10.72+2.60mV and 11.72+2.81mV, and an average duration of 2.23+0.38ms and 2.04+0.35ms, respectively. The average motor conduction velocity was 66.18+7.26m/s for the radial nerve and 60.50+7.86m/s for the ulnar nerve.