The following information is taken from the Canine Leishmaniasis support page on Facebook. It is great for people with Leish dogs to share photos and information and to learn more about the condition.
"Although not currently common in the UK, Leishmaniasis is a prevalent disease in much of Europe and warmer areas of the world. Although it may not be cured, veterinary treatment can lead to remission and effective long-term control of the disease with no impairment in quality of life. Leishmaniasis does not need to be a death sentence for dogs and it is important to find a vet who has up-to-date knowledge of the disease and its treatment.
Leishmaniasis is a serious disease and mismanagement can lead to a decline in health of the animal, but provided owners are aware of the symptoms and treatment protocols, dogs should be able to lead happy, normal lives. We hope that with more education more people will consider adopting dogs with leishmaniasis and give them a chance for a normal happy life.
What is Leishmaniasis? Leishmaniasis is an infection of leishmania protozoa (unicellular organism) that can affect humans and mammals. The disease is found all over the world except in Australia and is transmitted by bites from phlebotomine sandflies only. The infection produces a wide range of symptoms including hair loss around the eyes and muzzle, inappetence, weight loss, nose bleeds and eye problems, weeping lesions, lethargy, anaemia, dermatitis and overgrown claws. Severe infections can also lead to internal problems and kidney failure. If left untreated, severe infections can be fatal. There are several types of Leishmaniasis, each caused by a different species of sandfly. The visceral form of leishmaniasis affects internal organs and cutaneous leishmaniasis causes skin lesions and hair loss. Dogs usually suffer from both visceral and cutaneous symptoms but cutaneous leishmaniasis is the more common infection in humans.
How do dogs catch leishmaniasis? Dogs become infected through bites from a blood-sucking insect called a sand fly (Phlebotomine). Female sand flies suck blood for protein to make their eggs. If a fly bites an infected dog, the Leishmania parasite grows in the stomach of the fly and, later, when the fly bites again, infective forms of the parasite are injected into the skin of the animal which may then develop leishmaniasis.
There are very rare reports of a healthy dog becoming infected by being in close contact with a dog with leishmaniasis, or puppies of an infected bitch being born with the infection, however the method of infection has never been proven. Where the disease is managed, any risks of spreading the disease are significantly lower and reports of transmission are from severely infected, untreated dogs. A vector is usually necessary for any transmission of the disease so in countries where there are no sandflies, there is little risk of any spread of the disease. The vector involved in the transmission of Leishmaniasis is not found in the UK.
Can Leishmaniasis be transmitted to humans? Although some forms of the disease can be carried by humans, direct dog-to-human transmission has never been reported, even among veterinarians who have handled hundreds of dogs with leishmaniasis. Where the disease is managed at low levels there is a negligible risk of any kind of transmission and the canine strain of the disease is different to the strain that affects humans in other parts of the world.
Human patients respond much better to treatment than dogs, and infections are not life-threatening, responding well to the same drugs used to treat dogs, provided they are treated promptly.
Where are dogs at risk? Dogs are at risk from the disease anywhere where there are sandflies present. They are most abundant in gardens, around houses in the countryside, parklands and woodland. The period of activity of all sand fly vectors is from sunset to sunrise. The dangerous times of year are different in different countries. Around the Mediterranean, leishmaniasis is transmitted from May to September, or later if there is an Indian summer, to October. It is endemic in most of Greece, much of Italy, the Balkans, Malta, southern France, many parts of Portugal and Spain (particularly in the south east and the Balearic islands) and in the humid parts of North Africa. Among the safe places are the Scandinavian countries, the UK including the Channel Islands, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, northern France, and the mountains of Switzerland. There have also been recent reports of cases in warmer parts of the USA.
How can Leishmaniasis be prevented?
Currently there is no vaccine or prophylactic treatment available and the only available method of protection is a Deltamethrin-impregnated collars. (Scalibor®ProtectorBand, Intervet International) These collars effective in killing sand flies that feed on dogs and also have a strong anti-feeding effect on the flies. The collars slowly release insecticide onto the skin and retains efficacy for many months. Studies have shown that Scalibor collars are effective in 90% of cases.
How is Leishmaniasis diagnosed?
The common clinical signs of canine leishmaniasis may be enough to suggest leishmaniasis to an experienced veterinarian, especially in an endemic area yet it is important to confirm clinical diagnosis with laboratory test. Diagnosis can be made by microscopic examination of a bone marrow or lymph gland sample, serological detection in blood samples, or DNA tests in circulating blood cells or skin.
Recent information from Leishmania conferences indicates that for lower level dogs, an annual general health profile should be taken. From these results a veterinarian will be able to detect whether the Leishmaniasis is active. Globulin will be raised and Albumin will be abnormally low on Biochemistry results and Eosinophils may be flagged on Haematology results. If all results are normal then there is no reason to have a titre test done. If there are abnormalities with the results then a titre test can be taken to determine whether Leishmaniasis is the cause. Titre tests are not necessarily useful in isolation and are usually taken before and after treatment in order to assess the effectiveness of treatment protocols.
In addition to the titre test, Electrophoresis tests can be requested from an external laboratory and will help with identifying whether the dog requires treatment. This test accurately maps the protein levels of the blood and will detect any changes caused by Leishmaniasis.
For dogs with high levels of infection, electrophoresis, titre and a general health profile should be taken in order to adequately map the status of the disease.
What are the clinical signs of Leishmaniasis? Leishmaniasis will progress slowly in the dog’s body and it can take up to seven years from infection to the point when the dog owner starts to notice Leishmaniasis symptoms in the dog. The symptoms are often vague and the vet might treat the dog for other more common diseases before realising that the cause of the problems is Leishmaniasis. There are also quite a lot of dogs that seem to be naturally resistant to the parasite – they are infected but they never develop any symptoms of Leishmaniasis.
Common symptoms of Leishmaniasis in dogs are weakness, listlessness, intolerance to exercise, and loss of appetite (often leading to weight loss). In some dogs, these symptoms are accompanied with hepatosplenomegaly(enlarge
lesions are normally dry and the dog will lose its hair. The head is usually the first place for lesions to show, especially on the muzzle and pinna. Lesions originating on the footpads are also quite common. Eventually, the Leishmaniasis lesions can spread to the rest of the dog’s body. Articular involvement is not uncommon when it comes to Leishmaniasis in dogs, and can lead to swollen joints and a stiff gait. Other symptoms of Leishmaniasis in dogs are chronic diarrhoea, deformed and brittle nails, and ocular lesions.
If any of these symptoms present then owners should take the dog to see a vet in case they need to be put back on medication or on a higher dose of medication. Although these clinical signs seem severe, the initial stages are easy to spot and there is a good window of opportunity to get treatment and get the disease back to a managed level.
What is the treatment for leishmaniasis? Currently there is no cure for leishmaniasis but the disease can be very successfully managed with simple drug therapy and the dogs can go on to lead normal lives. The earlier the infection is treated, the better the chance of controlling the disease. Once treated, the clinical signs can go in remission but the dog will probably still be infected at a very low level for life, and may relapse. Dogs should be afforded a good diet, regular worming and flea treatments in order to reduce challenges on body systems. The healthier the dog, the lower the chances of a relapse occurring.
Initial treatment is with megulamine antimoniate (Glucantime®) injected either into a vein or under the skin every day for 3-4 weeks. This drug is not always well tolerated by leishmanial dogs and they should be under veterinary supervision throughout treatment. Glucantime is often combined with a drug called allopurinol, which is given daily by mouth for many months, sometimes for life in order to keep the disease in remission. After initial stabilisation of the disease, many dogs may never need further treatment, whilst others may need occasional periods of allopurinol treatment in the form of a twice-daily oral tablet/tablets. Allopurinol is not toxic and can be given to the dog by the owner. The dose range for allopurinol tablets is 10-30mg per kg of bodyweight. As low a dose as possible is used with the highest dose reserved for active cases and dogs with high levels of the parasite. Initially doses may be at the higher range with gradual reductions to the lowest effective dose.
It is important to note that the lowest effective dose of allopurinol is 10mg per kilogram of bodyweight twice a day. Medications should be given 12 hours apart in order that there is a regular level of the medication in the dog’s system at all times.
Treatment is relatively inexpensive and provided owners are aware of the early signs of a relapse and regular blood tests are carried out, the dog may never show severe symptoms. Regular blood tests can assess the level of leishmania infection and also indicate the health of the animal, therefore helping to reveal the need for allopurinol tablets before clinical signs appear. Your vet will need to use laboratory that tests leishmaniasis levels, such as the University of Bristol and dogs need to be off medication for two months before leishmaniasis levels can be assessed. Some dogs have such low levels that they do not ever need treatment whilst other dogs may need to stay on a low level allopurinol dose for life. In either case it should be possible for the dog to have a normal quality of life.
What support is available? There is always help and support available for every dog that has been rehomed from SOS animals. There are many volunteers and supporters who are keen to share information on Leishmaniasis and its treatment and are happy to help with any problems or questions that may crop up. Please contact us for any further advice.
SOS animals UK has created this sheet based on the experiences of volunteers, owners of dogs with Leishmaniasis and our own research. This information is not intended as a replacement or substitute for
veterinary care. Please see a vet immediately if you are worried about your dog.
Caring for a dog with Leish
Firstly, it is important for owners to be aware of the clinical signs of the disease in order that they amend or instigate a treatment plan. Please do not be unnerved by the severity of some of the symptoms listed as most are associated with long-standing, untreated infections. Most of the dogs who are under treatment and/or are low level will have no clinical signs at all.
What are the clinical signs of Leishmaniasis? Leishmaniasis will progress slowly in the dog’s body and it can take up to seven years from infection to the point when the dog owner starts to notice Leishmaniasis symptoms in the dog. The symptoms are often vague and the vet might treat the dog for other more common diseases before realising that the cause of the problems is Leishmaniasis. There are also quite a lot of dogs that seem to be naturally resistant to the parasite – they are infected but they never develop any symptoms of Leishmaniasis.
Common symptoms of Leishmaniasis in dogs are weakness, listlessness, intolerance to exercise, and loss of appetite (often leading to weight loss). In some dogs, these symptoms are accompanied with hepatosplenomegaly(enlarge
Lesions are normally dry and the dog will lose its hair. The head is usually the first place for lesions to show, especially on the muzzle and ear. Lesions originating on the footpads are also quite common to include thickening of the pads. In some cases the pads and nose can begin to lose pigment. Eventually, the Leishmaniasis lesions can spread to the rest of the dog’s body and the coat will appear dull and lifeless with hard lumps appearing on the skin.
Articular involvement is not uncommon when it comes to Leishmaniasis in dogs, and can lead to swollen joints and a stiff gait.
Other symptoms of Leishmaniasis in dogs are chronic diarrhoea, deformed and long brittle nails, and ocular lesions.
If any of these symptoms begin to show then owners should take the dog to see a vet in case they need to be put back on medication or on a higher dose of medication. Although these clinical signs seem severe, the initial stages are easy to spot and there is a good window of opportunity to get treatment and get the disease back to a managed level.
Please see the Leishmaniasis fact sheet for details on medical monitoring of the disease and the tests which should be performed by the veterinary surgeon.
Other ways to help In addition to medical treatment there are other ways in which owners can boost an animal’s immune system and lessen health challenges. Regular worming and flea prevention is a must, but vaccination protocols should be discussed with a vet in order to weigh up the immune status of the individual animal and environmental risk.
A yearly General Health Blood profile with particular attention to the Kidneys and liver is an excellent way of monitoring the function of internal organs.
Owners can reduce toxin levels in the kidneys by swapping to purified water and ensuring the dog drinks a sufficient quantity and stays hydrated.
A good quality diet can really give a dog all the nutrients they need in order to stay as healthy as possible. Many people recommend a raw diet and the addition of fresh vegetables but there are high quality dry foods available such as Royal Canin, Burns, James Well Beloved, Arden Grange and many others. There is also a specialist food available for dogs on higher doses of Allopurinol, yet they are only available on prescription. (Royal Canin Urinary U/S low purine)
The following vitamins can also be given in order to boost immunity and support areas of the body that might be negatively affected by the disease.
Glucosamine/Chrondroitin tablets or Comfry powder– Helps protect joints and encourages cartilage growth.
Vitamin C - 30mg
Cod liver oil - capsule/oil (or oily fish once a week)
Evening primrose oil – capsule
Flax Seed – Oil/capsule
Zinc - 10mg
Vitamin E - capsule
These vitamins help boost the immune system and help support the internal organs, skin and coat. None of the supplements, with the exception of Zinc are toxic so there is no danger in adding these to food and doses can be increased.
Natural Live Yogurt can help any dog’s digestive system as it contains probiotics and therefore boosts nutrient absorption."
You can see the facebook page here: www.facebook.com/pages/Canine-leishmaniasis
Leish dogs are happy dogs too!!!
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