Veterinarski arhiv, Vol. 90 No. 3, 2020.
Stručni rad
https://doi.org/10.24099/vet.arhiv.0380
Dog leishmaniasis in Slovenia: a probable creation of the first enzootic focus - a case report
Tina Kotnik
orcid.org/0000-0001-8133-2856
; Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Sažetak
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by protozoal parasites of the genus Leishmania. Parasites are transmitted by Phlebotominae flies (Diptera, Psychodidae). Leishmania infantum is the most important species in Europe. Humans, as well as animals, can become infected. The parasite produces a visceral form of the disease that can end in death if not treated properly. Dogs are considered the main reservoir for human infection. Traditional endemic regions in Europe are the countries of the Mediterranean basin. Slovenia is considered non-endemic. The article reports a case of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) in a Slovenian dog. This particular case was a 5 year old Brandlbracke bitch, born close to the Croatian border, but which had never crossed the Slovenian state borders. She was a regular outdoor sleeper. Beside considerable loss of weight, seborrhoeic and alopecic skin with crusts on the legs and head were noticed. Laboratory tests revealed hyperproteinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, leucocytosis, anaemia, and thrombocytosis. An immunofluorescence antibody titre test revealed 1: >160 antibody titre against L. infantum. Clinical improvement was achieved following therapy with allopurinol. Real-time PCR performed on conjunctival swab and blood specimens 1.5 years post therapy was negative. Since Phlebotominae flies were found in the south of the country recently, and infection by other routes in this case seems unlikely, this dog was most probably infected by sand fly bites. The possibility that CanL could be spread endemically in Slovenia therefore exists.
Ključne riječi
leishmaniasis; CanL; L. infantum; sand flies; Phlebotominae
Hrčak ID:
241828
URI
Datum izdavanja:
22.7.2020.
Posjeta: 1.137 *