Hepatozoon spp. in dogs of the Forest Zone of Minas Gerais State-Cases Report

This study describes the clinical case of two dogs, naturally infected by Hepatozoon spp., from Forest Zone of Minas Gerais State. Laboratory examination of the both animals showed anemia, hyperproteinemia and the presence of Hepatozoon spp. in the cytoplasm of some leukocytes. The youngest animal also had leukopenia accompanied by lymphopenia and mild neutropenia. The similarity between clinical signs and laboratory findings of hemoparasitosis may favor the lack of differential investigation for the diagnosis of hepazoonosis. But, the findings suggest that the protozoan Hepatozoon spp. should be considered, especially when the animal has a history of infestation by ectoparasites. Furthermore, this work has epidemiological importance because reports the first cases of Hepatozoon spp., identified in the Laboratory for Veterinary Clinical Analysis at Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), highlighting the importance of blood smear in order to identify the hemoparasite.