Leismanosis

[Toni]

I have recently seen a Soi dog and at first sight it seemed that her nose was showing the symptoms of Leismanosis. Does somebody knows that this illness occurs in Thailand already?

[taxexile]

Leishmaniasis (Sand Fly Disease)

Written by and permission given to reproduce by:

Myramar Animal Hospital

Dr.Jesus Sanchez Nicolas. col 745 - ma

Dra. Johanna Arlt Ghio. Col 4779 - m

Dra. Eleonore Op de Beeck Roosens

Fuengirola. Malaga

952588543 // 667433678

ALSO STOCKISTS OF BURNS PET NUTRITION.

Revised August 2003.

Many dog owners come into our clinic asking about 'that rare disease transmitted through a mosquito bite' announced on the radio, TV or through friends.

For this reason, we decided to write about the disease explaining in an easy and comprehensive way (to clear all about the disease)

Leishmaniosis is an infectious parasitic disease caused by a protozoan parasite and transmitted through a mosquito that acts as the vector. Hosts are humans, domestic and wild animals. The distribution area of this disease includes mild, subtropical and tropical areas. In humans, the disease is called "Kala Azar" which in Indian means "Black Fever". The disease occurs mainly sporadically in this area. The main pathological effects of the disease are due to its immunosuppressive capability and it's associated clinical manifestations.

In Spain, the problems in public and animal health are due to the wide geographical distribution of the different mosquito species of the phlebotomies family, that act as active disease transmitters especially during the summer and spring periods. But, in this area we have the disease during the entire year due to our "long lasting springtime"

Nowadays, therapy gives the possibility to totally control the disease but no cure exists for the moment. When the disease is diagnosed in an advanced stage with systematic abnormalities, treatment is absolutely useless!

The natural cycle of infection starts when the phlebotomus fly starts sucking blood out of it's host, the protozoan parasite within the mosquito is then transmitted to wild and domestic animals (mainly dogs and rodents) In general, cats and humans are accidental hosts. The protozoan parasite within the host lives within the macrophage cells, divide into more parasites breaking the macrophage and invading other macrophages. When a mosquito sucks blood out of a host it takes the Leishmania within the blood, there they multiply.

THE VECTOR

The phlebotomus mosquito is a little hemarophage fly of 1 - 4 mm, easily recognized by its hairy, yellow grey coloured body and for keeping its wings straight up when standing still. The adult fly's habitat is located in mild, humid isolated areas. (Under 17c they lose their flying ability). During daytime the adult's activity is at its lowest, starting at sunset in the hot summer nights their activity is at its maximum. You can find them on rock walls , tree hollows, broken houses, etc. Although their flying capability is limited they can fly a long way from their resting and mating point. Their typical flying technique (by making little jumps) is easily recognized when starting their flight from a resting point. High peak mosquito densities are in springtime and end of the summer period female mosquitoes are haematophages, being mainly responsible for the disease.

PATHOGENESIS

Once the infected mosquito bites its victim the leismania parasites are eaten by the macrophages (defensive blood cells) to which are totally resistant, reproducing themselves inside the cells breaking them and invading other cells, continuing the cycle. The first infection is local appearing in the ears, head and snout (nose) and disseminates to the rest of the body. Clinical signs start after a month or several years after the first infection started, some bibliography even talks about more than 6 years. The defence mechanisms of the body are not able to reach the Leishmania parasite within the macrophage cell, giving rise to an exaggerated immune response that leads to damage of the wall of the blood vessels, joints and kidneys, as well as anaemia.

SYMPTOMS

Frequently Leishamnia infection leads to chronic infection 90% of the infected patients present erroneous lesions. But in any infected animal we should consider visceral or systemic disease. Most common coetaneous and systemic problems are shown below.

CUTANEOUS PROBLEMS SISTEMIC PROBLEMS

Hyperkeratosis (excessive skin desquamation on mouth and footpads Loss of weight

Dry skin and easily broken hair Muscular atrophy

Dermatitis Anorexia

Mucocutaneous ulcers Renal failure

Skin modules Mental depression

Onicogriposis (excessive nail growth) Nasal bleeding

Poliartritis (joint inflammation)

Uveitis (anterior eye chamber inflammation.

DIAGNOSIS

The disease is easily diagnosed and its based on the visualisation of the Leismania parasite within the macrophages or by serology test from a blood sample.

MANAGEMENT

Nowadays there is no effective treatment against the disease. Our work is to control it, that's why we treat it like a chromic pathology treatment, which is based on antimonial products combined with other medications. It is lifelong treatment with breaks in between, maintaining the patient with an excellent quality of life. The only possible handicap when giving treatment is the organic problems (mainly renal) that the patient can have. Sometimes renal problems are too far-gone and treatment in those cases is of no use.

So what can be done?

Up to today, no effective vaccines exist against the disease but we do know that well-known laboratories are working on it. The best prevention treatment up to now is based on mosquito repellents, "INTERVET" invented a year ago a very effective collar called "SCALIBOR".

Things that the owner can do to prevent are:

" Keep the dog inside the house when the sun starts to set, and keep toilet breaks short before bedtime.

" Don't give night walks where water runs

" Use of mosquito nets.

" Use of mosquito repellents (like the "Scalibor" collar mentioned before.

PUBLIC HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

There have been very few cases of "Kala-Azar" in Spain. When they occur they can be fatal if not treated. The more prone to get the disease are babies and adults with immunosuppressive disease (aids, leukaemia, etc;) or that receive immunosuppressive treatment for transplants, cancer, etc. Direct transmission between infected dogs is seen in very rare occasions. The rise of dog-human transmission is zero. In any case, its been demonstrated in Israel, in the 80's, that the presence of dogs decreased human infection. There was an area in Israel where almost 100% of the dogs were infected, the authorities decided to sacrifice all infected dogs. Since then, the number of infected humans increased drastically. The government ordered to increase the number of dogs in the area again and human infected cases decreased again.

[BambinA]

Does somebody knows that this illness occurs in Thailand already?

not yet

[Toni]

Leishmaniasis (Sand Fly Disease)

Revised August 2003.

Many dog owners come into our clinic asking about 'that rare disease transmitted through a mosquito bite' announced on the radio, TV or through friends.

etc.....

Thanks for your very informative reply! Allthough I new quit a lot about it there are some new aspects I did not knew. Where I lived in Spain (in between Girona and Figueres - Costa Brava) is a whole area infected and lots of pets died already. But my question was about LOS and somebody answered already negative.

By the way, there are already Dutch soldiers suffering this disease in Nepal! They are treated with very painfull daily injections!

Edited March 16, 2006 by udon

[leisurely]

Something else for me to worry about then!

[Toni]

Something else for me to worry about then!

live is hard brother!

but...... no man goes before his time..................unless his boss leaves early!!

Groucho Marx