Meurs K M, Anthony M A, Slater M, Miller M W
Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843, USA.
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998 Aug 15;213(4):497-500.
To determine whether prevalence of naturally developing chronic infection with Trypanosoma cruzi in dogs in Texas changed between 1987 and 1996 and to characterize clinical aspects of the disease.
Retrospective study.
11 dogs with chronic infection with T cruzi.
Number of positive serologic test results for T cruzi obtained between 1987 and 1996 were compared with the number of tests for T cruzi performed during the same period. Survival time, signalment, and clinical signs of dogs and results of thoracic radiography, electrocardiography, and echocardiography were evaluated. The Mann-Whitney test was used to assess the association between age at time of initial examination and survival time.
The proportion of positive test results increased, compared with the number of tests submitted, during the 9-year period. Clinical signs in affected dogs were consistent with right-sided cardiac disease. Results of thoracic radiography were nonspecific. Conduction disturbances and supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias were evident. Echocardiographic abnormalities, including chamber enlargement and functional impairment, were detected. Dogs were characterized on the basis of survival time; group-1 dogs (n = 6) survived 0 to 5 months, and group-2 dogs (5) survived 31 to 60 months. Age at time of initial examination was associated with survival time.
Clinical course of disease varied. Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic changes may be detected. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for T cruzi infection in dogs with clinical signs of right-sided cardiac dysfunction and unexplained conduction disturbances and arrhythmias. Prevalence of this disease may be increasing in some regions of Texas.
确定1987年至1996年间得克萨斯州犬自然发生的克氏锥虫慢性感染患病率是否发生变化，并描述该疾病的临床特征。
回顾性研究。
11只患有克氏锥虫慢性感染的犬。
将1987年至1996年间获得的克氏锥虫阳性血清学检测结果数量与同期进行的克氏锥虫检测数量进行比较。评估犬的生存时间、特征、临床症状以及胸部X线摄影、心电图和超声心动图检查结果。采用曼-惠特尼检验评估初次检查时的年龄与生存时间之间的关联。
在这9年期间，与送检检测数量相比，阳性检测结果的比例有所增加。患病犬的临床症状与右心疾病一致。胸部X线摄影结果无特异性。传导障碍以及室上性和室性心律失常明显。检测到超声心动图异常，包括心腔扩大和功能损害。根据生存时间对犬进行分类；第1组犬（n = 6）存活0至5个月，第2组犬（5只）存活31至60个月。初次检查时的年龄与生存时间相关。
疾病的临床病程各不相同。可检测到心电图和超声心动图变化。临床医生应意识到，有右心功能障碍临床症状以及不明原因传导障碍和心律失常的犬存在克氏锥虫感染的可能性。在得克萨斯州的一些地区，这种疾病的患病率可能正在上升。
