Mary Allen
Leishmania is tiny, unicellular parasite. They live in their host’s immune cells and are difficult to combat.
General Information On Leishmaniasis In Dogs
The single-celled parasite transmits leishmaniasis in dogs by the sand fly. It occurs particularly in Southern Europe, Central, and South America, and the Middle East. However, in recent years it has also been spreading further and further north. Sandflies are active at dusk and at night, but they also fly into buildings when attracted by light. Mosquitoes infect hosts that are already infected. The Leishmania then multiplies inside before the mosquito bites the next mammal and transmits the pathogens.
So far, leishmaniasis in dogs has mainly occurred as a travel sickness after visiting corresponding countries. In addition, the animals that are often imported in groups from animal shelters often bring a Leishmania infection with them to Central Europe. Humans, rodents, and horses are known to be other potential hosts. Leishmania can also be transmitted during mating or from mother to puppies in the womb.
Symptoms
Leishmaniasis is a very complex disease that can manifest itself in different ways. Also, not all disease processes have been precisely clarified. The development of a disease takes at least 1-3 months, but it can also take years. Usually, the first thing you notice is that the dog is tired and worn out and not very resilient. Depending on the organs most affected, other symptoms can also be observed.
Most common are
- severely swollen lymph vessels and
- Inflammation of the skin (dermatitis).
The skin immediately at the puncture site becomes inflamed, and sometimes nodules form. But this is mostly overlooked. Later, the skin inflammation usually only shows up as hairless patches and scales, and then blisters and nodules can appear again. These symptoms often start at the edges of the ears, the nose, and around the eyes (so-called eyeglass formation). Later you will find them in other places like e.g. B. the abdomen. This skin inflammation is usually not accompanied by itching.
Less common are:
- extreme claw growth with claw bed inflammation
- weight loss and lack of appetite
- anemia
- conjunctivitis
- Disorder of kidney function (renal insufficiency, due to previous kidney inflammation)
- lameness
- Diarrhea
This list is not exhaustive, other symptoms can also occur.
Cats can also develop dermatitis, but overall much less is known about leishmaniasis than dogs.
When Should You Go To The Vet?
If your dog is unexplainedly exhausted, tired, eating poorly, and losing weight, you should always consult a veterinarian. Although these symptoms are not specific to leishmaniasis, they should definitely be clarified. A visit to the veterinarian is also advisable if there are significant changes to the skin or the appearance of other signs of illness.
Diagnosis Of Leishmaniasis
From the combination of a trip to an appropriate area and a few symptoms, the vet may already have the suspicion that your dog could have leishmaniasis. After taking a blood sample, this suspicion can be substantiated, since several typical changes in the red and white blood cells usually appear. There are also laboratory tests that can be used to detect Leishmania directly or the antibodies produced by the dog’s immune system, so-called antibodies.
The diverse symptoms of leishmaniasis are similar to those of other diseases. Defining the root cause can be challenging, but it is important.
Therapy
A causal treatment of leishmaniasis is difficult. Although there are several drugs that improve the symptoms of the disease, they can never completely kill the pathogen. They have to be used for months and the therapy is correspondingly expensive. If the animal is doing significantly better and the medication is then discontinued, the blood values must be checked regularly. If leishmaniasis breaks out again, this can be noticed promptly and treated again.
Without treatment, diseased animals die within 2-3 years. If therapy has been carried out, the prognosis can only be expected with advanced disease.
Prophylaxis
If you travel south with your dog or live in a distribution area of Leishmania or sandflies, you should protect your dog. There are collars and so-called spot-on preparations that keep mosquitoes from biting. It also helps to keep the dog indoors during dusk and darkness. There is now also a vaccination against leishmaniasis, but it does not offer absolute protection.
By the way: Even dogs that are already infected should be treated to prevent mosquito bites. Otherwise, sandflies can become infected and infect other animals or people.