Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with visceral leishmaniasis found in non-endemic area of Brazil
By Silva, Marcio Roberto et al.·Published in Cadernos de saude publica·2008·Nú·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Autochthonous canine visceral leishmaniasis in a non-endemic area: Bom Sucesso, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog in Brazil showed signs of visceral leishmaniasis, a serious disease caused by a parasite. Tests confirmed the presence of the parasite in the dog's blood and tissues, including the liver and kidneys. This case was significant as it was the first reported instance of this disease in that area, prompting local health authorities to investigate further. Out of 734 dogs tested, 22 were found to have the disease, with six showing clear symptoms. The findings led to calls for measures to control the disease and prevent it from spreading to humans.
People also search for: dog leishmaniasis symptoms · Brazil dog disease · how to prevent leishmaniasis in dogs
Abstract
The article begins by describing a dog with characteristic symptoms of visceral leishmaniasis. A serum sample from this animal was positive by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) performed in anti-Leishmania total IgG in 1999. Tissues from the same dog were also positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 2004, identifying Leishmania DNA in the cerebellum, liver, kidney, and intestine. This is the first report of a dog with autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis in the county of Bom Sucesso, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The finding of this IIF-positive dog led to a canine visceral leishmaniasis epidemiological investigation in the county. The investigation was conducted from March 1999 to December 2005. IIF was positive for Leishmania in 22 (3%) of 734 examined dogs. Among the 22 IIF-positive dogs, six presented characteristic symptoms of canine visceral leishmaniasis. The results of this epidemiological investigation were sent to local and State public health authorities, requesting visceral leishmaniasis control and preventive measures to interrupt transmission of the disease and avoid the occurrence of human cases.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18278274/