Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by parasites called Leishmania infantum. It can affect a variety of species including dogs, rats, foxes, wolves and occasionally, humans. In Europe the disease is transmitted by the bite of certain species of sandfly or midge of the genus Phlebotomus. As in the transmission of malaria, the sandfly passes the parasite in the blood when it bites a host. It is not transmitted by physical contact with an affected animal or by wounds, secretions or faeces.
If your dog is infected in may show some of the following symptoms:
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- Progressive weight loss
- Apathy and weakness
- Progressive wasting of the muscles
- Sores or ulcers on the skin, injuries that will not heal, dry skin, dandruff, general hair loss or hair loss around the eyes.
- Nose bleeds
- Inflammation of the lymph nodes, liver or spleen.
- Limping
- Sores on the eyes
Several months even years may pass between the moment your dog is bitten by the sandfly and the development of any symptoms. They may appear to be healthy when in fact they are infected and capable of transmitting the disease.
There are several ways to diagnose the disease: a blood test, bone biopsy or skin biopsy.
TREATMENT
Treatments are based on antimony derivates and other products, including vitamins, which give protection to the liver and kidney . Before treatment it is important to assess the state of liver kidney function and carry out the appropriate tests.
A probability of a positive prognosis is much improved by early diagnosis.
Treatment can take time and often results in remission of symptoms rather than a cure although curing the disease is possible.
The disease can return and this can depend to a large part on the phase that the disease was identified and treatment begun.
PREVENTION
The sandfly responsible for transmitting the disease, Phlebotomus perniciosus, is active from spring through to the beginning of autumn when the weather is warmer, from March to October. The best time to take your dog to the vet is in October, November or December after the season is over.
Once a diagnosis has been made, we can decide what treatment is appropriate. The first step is to take a blood test to assess the state of the primary internal organs, such as the liver and kidneys. If these are unaffected then the prognosis is greatly improved.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
No effective vaccine exists for the disease and so the following steps are the most effective:-
Be aware of the general health of your dog. Clear symptoms may not appear until the disease is already at an advanced stage.
Use insect repellents (pipettes & collars) and avoid the times and places where the sandfly tends to be active (rural areas at dawn and dusk)
If you notice any strange symptoms in your pet, visit your vet. Treatment is always more effective the earlier it is started.