Intoxicação por aceturato de diminazeno em um cão (canis lúpus familiaris): revisão de literatura e relato de caso

Abstract

Diminazene aceturate intoxication, an antiprotozoal agent used in the treatment of diseases such as trypanosomiasis and babesiosis, is known to cause significant clinical and pathological alterations, particularly in the central nervous system. This study describes the pathological and toxicological aspects of this intoxication in a one-year-old male Whippet dog, previously diagnosed with visceral leishmaniasis and treated with diminazene. Following intramuscular and oral administration of the drug, the animal developed acute neurological signs that culminated in death. Necropsy findings included foci of hemorrhage and malacia in the brainstem, systemic congestion, pulmonary hemorrhage, as well as hemorrhages in the left ventricular endocardium and bladder serosa. Histopathological evaluation revealed fibrinoid necrosis, multifocal hemorrhages, and severe neutrophilic encephalitis in the brainstem, alterations previously reported in the literature as characteristic of diminazene intoxication. Toxicological analysis of liver and kidney samples confirmed high concentrations of the drug, supporting the diagnosis. This case underscores the need to consider diminazene intoxication in the differential diagnosis of encephalic lesions in dogs treated with this antiparasitic drug. The integration of clinical history, pathological findings, and toxicological analyses is essential for a definitive diagnosis, particularly in cases of suspected intoxication.