A first vaccine based on adjuvanted purified excreted/secreted antigens of L. infantum was initially licensed in Europe in 2011. This vaccine contained a saponin adjuvant. Currently it is not commercially available.
The only currently available vaccine in Europe contains the active substance “protein Q”, a recombinant protein containing five different antigens from L. infantum without an additional adjuvant. First vaccination is a single injection. Booster injections are given annually.
The vaccine available in Europe can only be injected to healthy quantitatively seronegative dogs of 6 months of age or older. Vaccine does not prevent infection, but does alter disease progression and probability of progression to clinically overt disease.
Anti-Leishmania available vaccines
| Commercial name (manufacturer) | Composition | Availability | Vaccine protocol | Primary outcome | Vaccine efficacy | Diagnostic interference associated w/vaccine | |
| Antigen | Adjuvant | ||||||
| Leish-Tec® (Ceva Santé Animale) | A2 | Saponin | Brazil | Three primary vaccination doses (SC), 21-day intervals; one annual booster | Parasite detection | 71.4% | No detection of vaccinal antibodies with official ELISA* |
| Letifend® (Leti Pharma laboratories) | Q-protein | None | Europe | One primary vaccination dose (SC); one annual booster | Clinical disease | 72% | No detection of vaccinal antibodies by quantitative tests (IFAT, ELISA) or Serology rapid tests |
*Elicited antibodies against A2 protein are not detected by official serological tests employed in Brazil.