Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Challenges in caring for shelter dogs with Leishmania and infections
By da Silva, Alessandra Salles et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2024·Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Challenges of animals shelters in caring for dogs infected with Leishmania and other pathogens.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 98 dogs living in a shelter in Brazil were tested for Leishmania, a parasite that can cause serious illness in both dogs and humans. About 43% of the dogs had antibodies indicating they were infected with Leishmania, and many showed symptoms of the disease. Some dogs also tested positive for other infections like Ehrlichia and Babesia. Treatment for Leishmania included medications like allopurinol and miltefosine, but unfortunately, many treated dogs still showed signs of infection. The presence of these infections poses significant challenges for the care of these shelter dogs.
People also search for: dog Leishmania treatment · symptoms of Leishmania in dogs · shelter dog infections · Ehrlichia in dogs · Babesia in dogs
Abstract
The incidence of human Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) has decreased in Brazil; however, the number of areas reporting human and canine cases has increased, with Leishmania infantum usually preceding human infection. This study aimed to analyze the profile of infectious diseases that are endemic for both human and canine VL, in dogs housed in a shelter located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Northeast Brazil. Data was obtained between November/2021 to April/2022. All dogs residing at the shelter (98 dogs) were examined and blood was collected for testing for L. infantum, Ehrlichia canis, and Babesia sp. Statistical analyses considered the clinical and laboratory findings. Of the 98 animals, approximately 43% were positive for L. infantum antibodies, 19% were positive for L. infantum kDNA, and 18% were L. infantum positive by culture. Greater levels of anti-leishmania antibodies were observed in dogs with symptoms suggestive of VL. The dogs tested positive for E. canis (19/98) and B. canis (18/98). Lutzomyia longipalpis was captured inside the shelter, representing 74.25% (n = 225) of whole sandflies in the dog shelter. Concomitant infection by L. infantum and E. canis increased the odds of death. Treatment of VL included the use of allopurinol (n = 48) and miltefosine (n = 8). Treated animals showed more signs of Leishmania infection. Tickborn parasites and Leishmania were prevalent in sheltered dogs in a VL-endemic area, which increases the odds of death and poses an additional challenge for caring for abandoned dogs and at the same time setting protocols to manage reservoirs of L. infantum.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38462297/