Canine leishmaniosis–new concepts and insights on an expanding zoonosis: part two
Miró G, Cardoso L, Pennisi MG, Oliva G, Baneth G
(Trends Parasitol. 2008, 24(8):371-7)
Canine leishmaniosis is a widely spread zoonosis that is potentially fatal to humans and dogs. Infection with Leishmania infantum is much more prevalent than clinical disease, and infected dogs with no signs of disease are able to potentially transmit the infection. Serology has a low sensitivity for the diagnosis of asymptomatic infection and PCR markedly increases it. New treatments devoted exclusively for the therapy of canine leishmaniosis is needed because current drugs do not reliably eliminate infection and might provoke resistance. Protection against sand-fly bites by topical insecticides is effective in reducing the rate of the infection, and recent development of vaccines has suggested that immune prophylaxis is feasible. Integrated prevention with topical insecticides reducing the feeding of vectors and vaccination blocking early infection can be the basis of successful control programs.
Miró G, Cardoso L, Pennisi MG, Oliva G, Baneth G
(Trends Parasitol. 2008, 24(8):371-7)
Canine leishmaniosis is a widely spread zoonosis that is potentially fatal to humans and dogs. Infection with Leishmania infantum is much more prevalent than clinical disease, and infected dogs with no signs of disease are able to potentially transmit the infection. Serology has a low sensitivity for the diagnosis of asymptomatic infection and PCR markedly increases it. New treatments devoted exclusively for the therapy of canine leishmaniosis is needed because current drugs do not reliably eliminate infection and might provoke resistance. Protection against sand-fly bites by topical insecticides is effective in reducing the rate of the infection, and recent development of vaccines has suggested that immune prophylaxis is feasible. Integrated prevention with topical insecticides reducing the feeding of vectors and vaccination blocking early infection can be the basis of successful control programs.
N.B.: for a reprint of the article please contact leishvet@ucm.es