DETECTION OF QUANTITATIVE URINARY ALBUMIN IN EARLY RENAL DAMAGE IN LEISHMANIASIS DOGS.PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Canine Leishmaniosis (CL) is characterized by a polymorphic clinical picture with relevant renal involvement. In particular renal lesions include principally immune complex glomerulonephritis but also tubulointerstitial nephritis, that induce the development of proteinuria. The quantification of urinary albumin concentration is associated with renal disease progression and increased mortality in humans. The aim of this study is to evaluate the urinary albumin concentration in leishmaniosis affected dogs. 35 canine urine samples collected by cystocentesis were included in this study, 13/35 samples were obtained from healthy dogs, and 21/35 samples from dogs with CL. Based upon a Urinary total Protein to Creatinine ratio (UPC) cut-off value of 0.5, dogs with CL were classified as non-proteinuric (NP; UPC 0.5; 11/35). Proteinuria and albuminuria were analyzed using the following methods: urine dipstick, UPC (pirogallol red), E.R.D.-HealthScreen Canine Urine Test (Heska®), Urine Albumin concentration (UA) and Urine Albumin to Creatinine ratio (UAC) (immunoturbidometric method) and with High Resolution Electrophoresis (Hydragel, SeBia). In healthy dogs the mean of UA and UAC was 1.72 mg/dl ± 2.39 and 0.01 ± 0.01 SD respectively, and the E.R.D. results were all negative. The mean of UA and UAC in the NP dogs was 11.51 mg/dL ± 15.66 SD, 0.05 ± 0.08 SD respectively, while in the P dogs the mean of UA and UAC was 227.30 mg/dL ± 208.12 SD and 3.06±3.60 SD respectively. E.R.D resulted negative (5/10), low-positive (1/10) and medium positive (4/10) in NP dogs, and negative (2/11), high positive (3/11) and very high positive (6/11) in P dogs. A significant difference for the UA and UAC values between healthy and NP dogs (p<0.018 and p<0.017 respectively) was detected. A significant and good correlation was present between UPC ,UAC and UA in dogs affected by CL (P