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Leishmania infantum is the causative agent of canine leishmaniosis (CaNL) and human visceral leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean basin and some other parts of the world. Dogs are the major reservoir for this infection. Surveys have revealed that dog infection rates reach 70% in some foci in the Mediterranean basin. Canine leishmaniosis is a good example of a disease in which infection does not equal clinical illness due to the high prevalence of subclinical infection. Population studies have shown that a low proportion of the canine population develops a severe disease while another fraction has persistent subclinical infection. Susceptibility to CaNL has been associated with genetic factors and mutations in several loci.
The main clinical signs associated with CaNL are skin lesions, lymphadenomegaly, splenomegaly, ocular abnormalities, abnormal nails growth (onychogryphosis) and poor body condition. Additional findings include: epistaxis, renal failure, decreased appetite, polyuria and polydypsia, vomiting, melena and lameness. The diagnosis of CaNL is performed by microscopic detection of parasites, serology and PCR. Several drugs including allopurinol, meglumine antimoniate, amphotericin B, and miltefosine are used for treatment of CaNL. However, although most dogs recover following therapy, complete elimination of the parasite is usually not achieved and infected dogs may relapse following treatment. Prevention of CaNL includes the use of topical insecticides against sand fl ies, such as pyrethroid collars, spot-on formulations and sprays. In addition, new canine vaccines are being developed and commercially introduced or evaluated in several countries.
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