Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Preventive collars and spot-ons cut dog leishmaniosis in northern
By Cassini, Rudi et al.·Published in Veterinaria italiana·2013·Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, Italy·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Preliminary study of the effects of preventive measures on the prevalence of Canine Leishmaniosis in a recently established focus in northern Italy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In a small village in northern Italy, a study found that preventive measures against sandfly bites significantly reduced the number of dogs infected with Canine Leishmaniosis, a disease spread by sandflies. Initially, 6.9% of dogs tested positive for the disease in 2006-2007, but by 2010, the infection rate dropped to 20.6% among dogs in the same area. Owners reported that most dogs were protected with collars and spot-on treatments, leading to a lower infection rate, especially in younger dogs born after 2006. These findings suggest that using these preventive measures can effectively lower the risk of infection in dogs.
People also search for: dog leishmaniasis prevention · sandfly collar for dogs · Canine Leishmaniosis treatment
Abstract
Canine Leishmaniosis is endemic in Mediterranean areas, with a well-documented northward spread. The mass use of preventive measures against sandfly bites (collar and spot-on formulations) was tested in a small focus recently established in an isolated hilly area of north-eastern Italy (Colli Euganei). In 2006 and 2007, a total of 449 dogs living in the southern part of Colli Euganei were screened against Leishmania infantum using an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), and 31 (6.9%) were seropositive. A risk factor analysis clearly described the focus as limited to a small village named Calaone. In 2010, 63 animals from Calaone were sampled and their owners interviewed to verify the effectiveness of the preventive measures. According to what reported by owners, dogs started to be protected in 2006 (66.7% dogs protected), and protection rate incremented (around 90%) during the subsequent years. The seroprevalence value (4.2%) of the youngest age class (<5 years) was significantly lower than other classes, demonstrating that animals born after 2006 had low probabilities of getting infected. Besides, seroprevalence value referred only to dogs living in Calaone was 32.4% (23/71) in 2006-2007 and 20.6% (13/63) in 2010, showing a decreasing trend. Although still preliminary, the results show high sensitization of dog owners and suggest that the mass use of collars and spot-on acts positively in reducing the circulation of L. infantum.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23888415/