Visceral leishmaniasis in an English foxhound from an Ohio research colony
Swenson, C.L.; Silverman, J.; Stromberg, P.C.; Johnson, S.E.; Wilkie, D.A.; Eaton, K.A.; Kociba, G.J.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 193(9): 1089-1092
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 3198462 Document Number: 318739
Visceral leishmaniasis was diagnosed post mortem in a 6-year-old male English Foxhound from a closed research colony in Ohio, USA. The dog was presented initially with conjunctivitis, scleral congestion, miosis, increased aqueous protein concentration (flare) involving the left eye, and an inferomedial retinal detachment. The dog responded favourably to treatment, but 6 months later had anorexia, weight loss, haematochezia, large peripheral lymph nodes, splenomegaly and an ulcerated soft tissue mass on the lateral aspect of the left hock with oedema of the distal portion of the limb. The dog did not response to treatment, and died. Post mortem examination of the spleen revealed numerous Leishmania spp. amastigotes; Leishmania was also detected in lymph node and bone marrow aspirates (taken 8 and 1 months before death, respectively) when examined retrospectively. Of 25 serum samples from 25 dogs in the Foxhound colony, 8 were positive for Leishmania antibodies by IFAT (using L. donovani promastigotes). It is considered that the disease was transmitted in Ohio.