Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leishmania infection and claw damage in dogs with leishmaniosis
By Koutinas, Alexander F et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2010·Department of Clinical Studies·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Claw histopathology and parasitic load in natural cases of canine leishmaniosis associated with Leishmania infantum.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 40 dogs with leishmaniosis (a disease caused by a parasite) had their claws examined for signs of infection and damage. Some dogs showed severe claw deformities, while others did not. The tests revealed that the main issues in the claws were inflammation and skin changes, but the actual parasite was not found in the claw tissues. This suggests that while leishmaniosis can cause noticeable changes in the claws, it may not lead to a significant local infection in that area.
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Abstract
Histological lesions and the presence of Leishmania spp. amastigotes in claw tissues were investigated in 40 dogs with leishmaniosis, with (16/40--group A) or without (24/40--group B) generalized onychogryphosis. Following euthanasia, the entire third phalanx with intact claw was amputated, formalin fixed, decalcified in a formic acid solution, embedded in paraffin, sectioned longitudinally and stained with haematoxylin and eosin, and acid orcein-Giemsa. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the detection of Leishmania amastigotes. Lichenoid mononuclear infiltration (all dogs in group A, 21 of 24 dogs in group B), basal keratinocyte vacuolation (nine of 16 dogs in group A, 15 of 24 dogs in group B) and dermoepidermal clefting (13 of 16 dogs in group A, 18 of 24 dogs in group B) were the most prominent histopathological findings. There was no difference in the frequency and severity of these lesions between the two groups. Leishmania amastigotes could not be visualized in the dermis of any of the H&E sections, but their presence was demonstrated by nested PCR in three of 16 dogs in group A and two of 24 dogs in group B. However, the frequency of positive nested PCRs was not significantly different between the two groups. In conclusion, claw histopathology in symptomatic dogs with leishmaniosis, either with or without onychogryphosis is mainly characterized by mononuclear lichenoid dermatitis with or without interface dermatitis and dermoepidermal clefting, and is not accompanied by substantial local parasitism.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21039983/