Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leishmaniasis risk for military working dogs in the Mediterranean
By Killian, Jerrod W·Published in U.S. Army Medical Department journal·2007·Japan District Veterinary Command, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The impact of leishmaniasis on military working dogs with Mediterranean basin exposure.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of military working dogs stationed in the Mediterranean were tested for leishmaniasis, an infectious disease that can affect both dogs and humans. All tests for the disease came back negative, and while some dogs showed signs that could suggest exposure, there was no clear link between how long they were in the area and any symptoms. This means that the risk of these dogs carrying leishmaniasis when moved to non-endemic areas is very low. Overall, the dogs remained healthy and did not require treatment for this disease.
People also search for: military working dog leishmaniasis symptoms · dog leishmaniasis treatment · Mediterranean dog disease exposure
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is an infectious protozoan disease of people and domestic animals that occurs throughout temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions of the world. In the Mediterranean Basin, Canine Leishmaniasis (CanL) is endemic and might pose a risk to military working dogs (MWDs) stationed in the area. Concerns over translocating exposed MWDs into CanL nonendemic areas create the need to ascertain the impact of CanL in exposed MWDs. OBJECTIVE: To determine the magnitude of CanL in exposed MWDs. DESIGN: Serum/tissue examination of exposed MWDs using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence assay (IFAT) tests targeted to L. infantum; abstraction of MWD medical records for CanL-related signs. SETTING: Military bases within the Mediterranean basin. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-four MWDs located from a records search. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PCR results; IFAT titers; frequency and number of CanL-related clinical signs abstracted from medical records; case definitions. RESULTS: All PCR and IFAT tests were negative. No MWDs were classified as CanL cases or CanL probable cases. Although 16 MWDs met the CanL suspect case definition, no correlation was found between the length of time MWDs were exposed and the number of CanL-related clinical signs abstracted from medical records. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the potential for MWDs to translocate CanL is very low.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20091980/