Canine Leishmaniasis: Update on Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Abstract

Dog are the main reservoir of Leishmania infantum, causing canine leishmaniasis, an incurable multisystemic disease that leads to death in symptomatic dogs, when not treated. This parasite causes visceral, cutaneous, and mucosal leishmaniasis in people in the Mediterranean Basin, North Africa, South America, and West Asia. This disease is mostly unknown by veterinarians outside the endemic areas, but the disease is expanding in the Northern Hemisphere due to travel and climate change. New methodologies to study the epidemiology of the disease have found new hosts of leishmaniasis and drawn a completely new picture of the parasite biological cycle. Canine leishmaniasis diagnosis has evolved over the years through the analysis of new samples using novel molecular techniques. Given the neglected nature of leishmaniasis, progress in drug discovery is slow, and the few drugs that reach clinical stages in humans are unlikely to be commercialised for dogs, but several approaches have been developed to support chemotherapy. New-generation vaccines developed during the last decade are now widely used, along with novel prevention strategies. The implications of the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of canine leishmaniasis are fundamental to public health.

Interleukin 6 and Interferon Gamma Haplotypes Are Related to Cytokine Serum Levels in Dogs in an Endemic <em>Leishmania infantum </em>Region

“…In fact, Solano-Gallego et al (2000) show a significant cellular response to infection in this canine breed [18]. Cellular response mediated that Th1 response is related to several cytokines production, concretely, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 2 (IL-2), which activate the macrophage that eliminates the parasite [12,19]. Other cytokines such as IL-4, IL-10 and transforming growth factor beta (TFG-β) activates the Th2 response (humoral immune response) and provokes the dissemination of parasite [20].…”

“…The VL produces in humans around 20,000 to 40,000 deaths and 200,000 to 400,000 new infections per year, being one of the most relevant parasitic diseases [4]. Although the parasite has been recently found in different species as reptiles [5], wild carnivores [6,7], wild rabbits [8,9], horses [10] and cats [11], the most relevant host of L. infantum is the dog, where caused canine leishmaniasis (CanL) [12]. Seroprevalence of L. infantum infection is related to different factors, with controversial results.…”

Interleukin 6 and Interferon gamma haplotypes are related to cytokine serum levels in dogs in an endemic Leishmania infantum region

“…In fact, Solano-Gallego et al (2000) show a significant cellular response to infection in this canine breed [18]. Cellular response mediated that Th1 response is related to several cytokines production, concretely, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 2 (IL-2), which activate the macrophage that eliminates the parasite [12,19].…”

“…The VL produces in humans around 20,000 to 40,000 deaths and 200,000 to 400,000 new infections per year, being one of the most relevant parasitic diseases [4]. Although the parasite has been recently found in different species as reptiles [5], wild carnivores [6,7], wild rabbits [8,9], horses [10] and cats [11], the most relevant host of L. infantum is the dog, where caused canine leishmaniasis (CanL) [12]. Seroprevalence of L. infantum infection is related to different factors, with controversial results.…”

A Calcium- and GTP-Dependent Transglutaminase in Leishmania infantum

“…As an antileishmanial drug, allopurinol is mainly used for canine infection alone or in combination with antimonials or miltefosine [ 4 ]. Human leishmaniasis is treated with amphotericin B lipid-associated formulations, antimonials, pentamidine, paromomycin, miltefosine, and a few other compounds, such as ketoconazole for cutaneous forms.…”