Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
New skin lesions in horses - could it be leishmaniasis?
By Modrý, David et al.·Published in Emerging infectious diseases·2025·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Emergence of Autochthonous Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis Infections in Horses, Czech Republic and Austria, 2019-2023.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In recent years, there have been four reported cases of skin infections in horses caused by a parasite called Leishmania martiniquensis in the Czech Republic and Austria. This is concerning because these infections are occurring outside the areas where they are usually found. The parasite can cause skin lesions in horses, and there is a risk that it could be passed on to people, especially those with weakened immune systems, in central Europe. It's important for horse owners and veterinarians to be aware of this potential health issue.
Abstract
We report 4 cases of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania martiniquensis in Czech Republic and Austria, outside the known endemic range of leishmaniases. The parasite should be considered as a potential cause of cutaneous lesions in horses; the risk for zoonotic transmission to immunocompromised humans is anticipated throughout central Europe.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40867059/