Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leishmania infantum found in milk of infected female dog in Brazil
By Ribeiro, Vitor Márcio et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2022·Santo Agostinho Hospital Veteriná, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Report of the presence of Leishmania infantum in the milk of a naturally infected female dog in Brazil.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A female dog in Brazil was found to have Leishmania infantum, a parasite that causes visceral leishmaniasis, in her milk. This raises concerns about whether puppies could potentially be infected through breastfeeding. While lymphoid tissue is typically where this parasite is found, the discovery in milk suggests that more research is needed to understand the risks involved. Pet owners should be aware of this possibility and discuss any concerns with their veterinarian.
People also search for: dog leishmaniasis symptoms · can puppies get sick from mother's milk · Leishmania infantum in dogs
Abstract
Dogs are the most important reservoir of Leishmania infantum, the causal agent of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. Although lymphoid tissue is the most important biological tissue where amastigotes can be found, this paper describes the presence of L. infantum DNA in the milk of a lactating naturally infected female dog. This finding suggests the need for further studies to elucidate whether breastfeeding can be a route of infection.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36436888/