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LEISHMANIASIS

Leishmaniasis is a very severe illness and can end with the death of the animal.

The bite of the mosquito, called “butterfly mosquito” or Phlebotomus, transmits Leishmaniosis into the dog's organism, a riquetzia called Leishmania infantum. Against Leishmania no vaccination exists up to now, but there is medication to treat it.

·         Where is Leishmaniasis active?

We find Leishmaniasis in the north of Latin-America and in the Mediterranean zone, where it is endemic. Also in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Libya and Morocco.

·         What are the Symptoms?

One of the first symptoms is the loss of hair around the eyes and the nose. In almost all the cases we can see that the dog has appetite but can notice a weight loss. It shows inflammation of the skin on the head and paws; but mostly in the parts where there is contact with the ground. In the last stages of the illness, we can notice long and soft claws.

·         What can I do if I think that my dog has Leishmaniasis?

Bring your dog to the Vet to do a blood test. Do tests every year before the symptoms appear. Ensure that your dog lives longer and with a better quality of life.

·         Is there a treatment for my dog?

Yes, but there is the possibility that the symptoms can reappear. The medications are antimonies; it is necessary to inject them daily for a period of one – two weeks. There are also oral tablets.  

Recently, was approved a new treatment against the Leishmania. It is a medicine that giving this during 28 days, eliminate in an 90 % the Leishmania with no damage in the kidneys.

This new medicine ( Milteforan ) give a new possibility to treat this illness; with so lesser collateral effects in your dog.

·         What is the incubation time of this illness?

It can be from 3 month to 18 months. It is very rare that Leishmanias stays undetected and remain in an immature stage with no symptoms or development. Sometimes – but also very rarely, the organism eliminates Leishmaniosis by itself.  

·         What is the cycle of life of the parasite?

In the doIIn the dog, the Leishmania lives in special cells called Macrofagus (one of the white cells). These are found in the blood, skin and different organs. The parasite has a round form and its reproduction is by cellular division. If the mosquito bites an infected dog, it takes the infected cells through the skin. In the mosquito's stomach the cells are broken and release the Leishmania. This parasite (Leishmania) reproduces itself after days in many immature forms. Then, the female mosquito, starts to search for its aliment: the blood. If this mosquito bites the dog for the second time, it puts the eggs under the skin, producing an inflammatory reaction in the place of the bite. Preferably in the lips, nose or ear (where the access of the mosquito is easier because of less hair). There, the parasites are captured by the macrofagus and will spread to different organs of the dog.

·         Can I catch this illness if this mosquito (flebotomus)  bites me?

Yes, but the risk is very small and this illness in humans is easy to treat (except in cases of humans with AIDS, because the immune system is deteriorated). 

·         How can I recognise the mosquito and where does it live?

This mosquito is very small. They have hair, 2 wings (2.5- 3mm long) and their buzz is hardly noticeable.

Their colour The colour is from “kaki" to brown. When they want to bite, they jump with the back legs and wings wide open open… open on the dog's body. They bite people and dogs. If the person is allergic, it will feel like your skin is burning bur burning. 

The mosquito is rarely seen during the day - normally they hide in holes until the twilight. This mosquito doesn't live on the beach, but you can find them in the garden, or any humid place. When a mosquito lays eggs, the "larva" will hatch one week later.

As from this moment, the cycle of growth from the egg to adult takes 2 months. In the Mediterranean see, the activity of the mosquito starts in May until September and when the temperatures continue to stay warm – they can last until October. The last generation of "larva’s" before winter ends the growth - they enter in hibernation. 

Males and females feed from sugar from the plants. Females only also feed on blood (necessary for the maturation of the eggs) they lay around 100 eggs in the ground near organic residues.

·         Does a vaccination exist against Leishmaniosis?

Yes. Recently, was authorized a new vaccine against Leishmaniosis: CaniLeish®; and is used to vaccinate dogs from six months of age to reduce the risk of developing an active infection and clinical disease after contact with Leishmania infantum.
CaniLeish is to be used only in ‘leishmania-negative’ dogs. The detection of Leishmania infection using a rapid diagnostic test is recommended before vaccination.

The vaccine is given to dogs as three injections, three weeks apart, under the skin. The first injection can be given from six months of age, the second injection is given three weeks later and the third three weeks from the second one. Afterward a single ‘booster’ should be given every year to maintain the vaccine’s effect.The efficacy of vaccination in dogs already infected was not investigated and therefore cannot be recommended. In dogs developing leishmaniosis (active infection or disease) despite vaccination, proceeding with vaccine injections showed no benefit.

The risk of vaccine-induced infection can be excluded since the vaccine does not contain parasites.
CaniLeish® is a vaccine that contains a number of proteins that are released from the Leishmania infantum parasite during its growth.

The vaccine protection in dogs is report in 65-70%. It is also  recomended to protect also with collars or pipets that contains permetrina or deltametrina, to reduces the risk to contract the illnes to a minimum.

 

 

   

 

ANOTHER ARTICLES:

  Travelling with your Pet 

  Kennel Cough  

  FUS (Feline Urinary Syndrome)

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 

 

 
   
 
   
 
 

 

 
 
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