Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How vets monitor infection relapses in dogs outside endemic areas
By Kaempfle, Melanie et al.·Published in Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)·2025·LMU Small Animal Clinic, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Importance of Different Parameters for Monitoring Dogs withInfections in a Non-Endemic Country.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 52 dogs in Germany with infections were monitored over a year to detect any relapses in their condition. The dogs were regularly checked for symptoms like swollen lymph nodes, skin issues, and protein in their urine, which were linked to a higher chance of their disease returning. The study found that these symptoms could help predict when a relapse might occur, allowing for earlier intervention. By keeping a close eye on these signs, veterinarians can better manage the health of infected dogs and improve their outcomes.
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Abstract
infections in dogs can cause severe recurrent disease. The aim of this study was to investigate different parameters for early detection of disease relapses in-infected dogs in Germany. Fifty-two dogs naturally infected withwere enrolled. During the one-year study period, all dogs remained outside of endemic areas and attended study appointments every three months, including physical examination, blood pressure measurement, complete blood count with differential, serum biochemistry with symmetrical dimethylarginine and C-reactive protein, complete urinalysis including urine protein-to-creatinine ratio,PCR, and antibody ELISA. Disease relapse was defined as deterioration of clinical or laboratory parameters in dogs that had achieved complete or partial remission before. Univariable and multivariable Bayesian logistic regression were used to identify predictors of disease relapse. Lymphadenopathy (< 0.01; OR = 6.93), seborrhea/hypotrichosis (= 0.02; OR = 8.02), and proteinuria (< 0.01; OR = 9.14) were significantly associated with upcoming disease relapses (= 10; 9/52 dogs), while associations between higher antibody levels and upcoming disease relapses trended towards significance (= 0.06; OR = 1.03). Different parameters are important for an early diagnosis of disease relapse in canine leishmaniosis and should thus be regularly assessed and interpreted accordingly in the monitoring of-infected dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41471237/