Frecuencia de esplenomegalia evaluada mediante ecografía abdominal en caninos sometidos a test diagnóstico de hemoparasitosis en un centro veterinario de Guayaquil y uno de Daule.

Abstract

Splenomegaly is a common ultrasonographic finding in dogs with hemoparasitic diseases, particularly in those presenting systemic clinical signs. In this context, the objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of splenomegaly by abdominal ultrasound in dogs diagnosed with hemoparasitosis that were treated between September and December 2025 at one veterinary center in Guayaquil and another in Daule. A descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative, and observational study was conducted on a sample of 100 dogs that attended consultation due to clinical suspicion of hemoparasitosis. Diagnosis was performed using immunochromatographic tests for Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma spp., Dirofilaria immitis, and Lyme disease. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the spleen was based on morphological and metric criteria, complemented by a splenic index adjusted to body weight. The overall frequency of splenomegaly was 71%. A statistically significant association was observed between the presence of splenomegaly and clinical signs such as fever, lymphadenomegaly, and anorexia in cases of ehrlichiosis (p = 0.001). Cases of Anaplasma spp. and Dirofilaria immitis were analyzed descriptively due to their low frequency. The results highlight the usefulness of abdominal ultrasonography as a complementary and non-invasive diagnostic tool in the evaluation of dogs with suspected hemoparasitic diseases.