Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Factors affecting how canine leishmaniosis gets worse in dogs
By Sanz, Carolina R et al.·Published in International journal for parasitology·2024·Animal Health Department, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Exploring the impact of epidemiological and clinical factors on the progression of canine leishmaniosis by statistical and whole genome analyses: from breed predisposition to comorbidities.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that canine leishmaniosis (CanL), a disease caused by a parasite, affects dogs differently based on various factors. Dogs that are crossbreeds, weigh less than 10 kg, live indoors, receive regular deworming, and are vaccinated against Leishmania have a lower risk of severe disease. However, certain breeds like Great Danes and Rottweilers are more prone to severe stages of the disease, especially if they have other health issues like kidney disease. The research also identified specific genetic factors that may influence how dogs respond to this infection.
People also search for: dog leishmaniosis symptoms · Great Dane leishmaniosis risk · vaccination for Leishmania in dogs
Abstract
Canine leishmaniosis (CanL), caused by Leishmania infantum, is a complex disease of growing importance in Europe. Clinical manifestations result from the down-modulation of the host immune response through multiple host-parasite interactions. Although several factors might influence CanL progression, this is the first known study evaluating risk factors for its different clinical stages in a large referral hospital population (n = 35.669) from an endemic area, over a 20 year period. Genome-wide scans for selection signatures were also conducted to explore the genomic component of clinical susceptibility to L. infantum infection. The prevalence of CanL was 3.2% (16.7% stage I; 43.6% stage II; 32.1% stage III; 7.6% stage IV). Dog breed (crossbreed), bodyweight (<10 kg), living conditions (indoors), regular deworming treatment, and being vaccinated against Leishmania significantly decreased the transmission risk and the risk for developing severe clinical forms. Conversely, the detection of comorbidities was associated with advanced clinical forms, particularly chronic kidney disease, neoplasia, cryptorchidism, infectious tracheobronchitis and urate urolithiasis, although those did not impact the clinical outcome. Significant associations between an increased risk of severe clinical stages and findings in the anamnesis (renal or skin-related manifestations) and physical examination (ocular findings) were also detected, highlighting their diagnostic value in referred cases of CanL. Sixteen breeds were found to be significantly more susceptible to developing severe stages of leishmaniosis (e.g. Great Dane, Rottweiler, English Springer Spaniel, Boxer, American Staffordshire Terrier, Golden Retriever), while 20 breeds displayed a clinical resistantance phenotype and, thus, are more likely to mount an efficient immune response against L. infantum (e.g. Pointer, Samoyed, Spanish Mastiff, Spanish Greyhound, English Setter, Siberian Husky). Genomic analyses of these breeds retrieved 12 regions under selection, 63 candidate genes and pinpointed multiple biological pathways such as the IRE1 branch of the unfolded protein response, which could play a critical role in clinical susceptibility to L. infantum infection.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38570155/