Leishmania sp. can affect the cardiovascular system of dogs - A systematic review of over 80 years

Cardiovascular involvement in Leishmania sp. infections still requires further elucidation, with cutaneous and organic changes being more frequently observed. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of cardiovascular involvement in dogs with canine visceral leishmaniasis, considering a publication span of over 80 years. A bibliographic search focused on canine visceral leishmaniasis and cardiovascular involvement via the descriptors "leishmaniasis," "heart," and "dogs" from 1940 to 2024. An analysis of over 80 years of published documents was performed across four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Portal Capes. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were predetermined to ensure proper triage, considering documents that described cardiovascular involvement in canine visceral leishmaniasis. Initially, 250 documents were identified via the specified descriptors. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 29 articles were deemed eligible. Most studies were dated from 2005 to 2024. Histopathological analysis of heart samples was performed in nearly 20 studies. The animals evaluated were over 6 months old, with Leishmania infantum being the most frequently described species. Cardiovascular alterations were observed from electrophysiological, echocardiographic, and histopathological/immunohistochemical perspectives and in biomarker concentrations. Canine visceral leishmaniasis has extensive dissemination potential, emphasizing the need for veterinary and epidemiological surveillance services to monitor the spatial/temporal patterns of this disease. Cases of myocarditis with inflammatory infiltrates were documented in all reviewed studies. Routine cardiovascular evaluation should be integrated into the assessment and monitoring of canine visceral leishmaniasis, considering clinical, laboratory, and imaging evidence of cardiovascular alterations.