Avaliação ultrassonográfica do figado de cães com acesso a pesticidas em cultivos de soja

Abstract

The intensive use of pesticides in soybean cultivation has been associated with impacts on animal health, especially on the liver, an organ responsible for the metabolism of toxic substances and therefore susceptible to lesions resulting from exposure to these compounds. In this context, ultrasonography stands out as a non-invasive diagnostic method for liver evaluation. The present study aimed to analyze hepatic alterations in dogs exposed to pesticides in agricultural areas through ultrasonographic evaluation, in an observational study conducted with eleven dogs in the municipality of Bela Vista de Goiás (GO). Most animals presented parameters within normal ranges; however, alterations were observed in some dogs, such as increased hepatic echogenicity, reduced liver size, and presence of biliary sediment, occurring individually and without a uniform pattern. These findings are consistent with alterations described in the literature in cases of exposure to hepatotoxic agents, although they do not allow establishing a definitive causal relationship with pesticides. It is concluded that ultrasonography is a useful tool for detecting hepatic alterations in exposed dogs, and further studies are required to better understand the effects of chronic exposure and to strengthen the role of these animals as environmental bioindicators.