Leishmaniasis in the dog
Kammermann-Lüscher, B.
Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 122(10): 585-603
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7281 PMID: 7466339 Document Number: 156463
Between 1965 and 1980 ten dogs infected with Leishmania were treated in Zurich. 9 had become infected in the Mediterranean area and one in Afghanistan. The chief symptoms occurred in the skin, viz. redness, swelling and flaking particularly on the head and ears. Epistaxis, keratitis, asthenia and bouts of fever might also occur. Blood tests showed anaemia, moderate leucopenia and great increases in total serum proteins and in erythrocyte sedimentation rates, which confirmed the diagnosis. It was not always possible to demonstrate leishmaniae in the skin, marrow or spleen. In 6 cases high antibody levels were consistently found by the immunofluorescence test, and a titre of 1:40 was considered to be specific. The treatment recommended is glucantime but the courses may have to be repeated several times. A full review is given of the whole subject.