Guidelines for treatment of leishmaniasis in dogs

2010/06/01 by Gætano Oliva, Gaetano Oliva, Xavier Roura DVM +9 · 1 citation
Immunology and Microbiology · Medicine · #Leptospirosis research and findings #Research on Leishmaniasis Studies #Vector-borne infectious diseases

paper · pdf · doi:10.2460/javma.236.11.1192

openalex publication_date 2010/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Drug treatment of leishmaniasis in dogs is a challenge
\nfor veterinary practitioners. Because of its
\ncomplex pathogenesis, leishmaniasis may manifest with
\nvarious clinical signs, ranging from mild and nonspecific
\nto those reflecting severe involvement of several
\norgans. The immune response plays an important role
\nin the development, outcome, and response to treatment
\nof Leishmania infection in dogs.1 All known anti-
\nLeishmania drugs used in dogs can lead to temporary
\nor permanent remission of clinical signs, but none are
\nsufficient to eliminate the infection.2 Indeed, all anti-
\nLeishmania drugs currently used in dogs were discovered
\nand developed to treat leishmaniasis in humans.
\nMost therapeutic protocols were developed through
\nhuman clinical studies and thereafter adapted to dogs,
\noften without sufficient pharmacokinetic information
\nrelevant to dogs.
\nIn dogs, the objectives of anti-Leishmania treatment
\nare typically to induce a general reduction of the parasite
\nload, to treat organ damage caused by the parasite,
\nto restore efficient immune responses, to stabilize a
\ndrug-induced clinical improvement, and to treat clinical
\nrelapse. The most widely used drugs are described
\nin the present report. In addition, we propose a 5-class
\nstaging of leishmaniasis that can help in choosing the
\nmost appropriate anti-Leishmania treatment. As with
\nour guidelines for diagnosis of leishmaniasis in dogs,3
\nthe guidelines reported here are an updated version of
\nthose originally published in Italian in Veterinaria, the
\nofficial journal of the Italian Society of Veterinarians
\nGuidelines for treatment of leishmaniasis in dogs
\nof Companion Animals, and are based on a thorough
\nreview of international literature and, where data are
\ninadequate or incomplete, are supplemented with the
\nexperience of Canine Leishmaniasis Working Group
\nmembers. The present guidelines are limited to specific
\nantiparasite drugs and are not intended to cover
\nother ancillary drugs that are often necessary during
\ntreatment of leishmaniasis in dogs.

Citations

• Comparative study on the short term efficacy and adverse effects of miltefosine and meglumine antimoniate in dogs with natural leishmaniosis
• Serum concentrations of acute-phase proteins in dogs with leishmaniosis during short-term treatment
• Activity of amphotericin B in lipid emulsion in the initial treatment of canine leishmaniasis
• The effect of intravenous or subcutaneous administration of meglumine antimonate (glucantime®) in dogs with leishmaniasis. A randomized clinical trial
• Guidelines for diagnosis and clinical classification of leishmaniasis in dogs

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