Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Skin lesions and anemia in dogs with Leishmania braziliensis in Brazil
By Figueredo, Luciana Aguiar et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2012·Departamento de Imunologia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical and hematological findings in Leishmania braziliensis-infected dogs from Pernambuco, Brazil.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 17 dogs in Brazil infected with Leishmania braziliensis showed symptoms like skin lesions, weight loss, and changes in blood tests. Most of these dogs had low platelet counts and anemia, which can be signs of illness. The study highlights the importance of recognizing that these symptoms can overlap with other diseases, so veterinarians should be careful not to misdiagnose them. Treatment options were not detailed, but addressing the symptoms and managing the infection is crucial for recovery.
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Abstract
Canine cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania braziliensis is a neglected, but widespread disease of dogs in South America. This paper describes clinical and hematological alterations in 17 L. braziliensis-infected dogs from Brazil. The most common hematological findings were thrombocytopenia (82.4%), anemia (70.6%), low packed cell volume (52.9%) and eosinophilia (41.2%). Twelve (70.6%) dogs displayed at least one evident physical alteration; 11 dogs (64.7%) presented skin lesions, four (23.5%) had weight loss and two (11.8%) onychogryphosis. L. braziliensis-infected dogs present clinical and hematological signs often observed in dogs infected by other pathogens. This indicates that veterinarians and public health workers should not consider the presence of non-specific clinical signs as diagnostic criteria for visceral leishmaniasis in dogs living endemic areas to avoid misdiagnosis and subsequent elimination of dogs infected by L. braziliensis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23207982/