Canine Leishmaniasis
Serious zoonotic protozoal infection of man and animals.
Cause : intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania .
Transmission is predominantly by sand-fly bites .
Signs : the visceral form is more common in the dog and 90% of dogs have cutaneous or mucocutaneous involvement. Specific signs include chronic weight loss, lymphadenopathy, alopecia and exfoliative dermatitis, nodular skin lesions, chronic renal failure and epistaxis.
Cause : intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania .
Transmission is predominantly by sand-fly bites .
Signs : the visceral form is more common in the dog and 90% of dogs have cutaneous or mucocutaneous involvement. Specific signs include chronic weight loss, lymphadenopathy, alopecia and exfoliative dermatitis, nodular skin lesions, chronic renal failure and epistaxis.
Presenting signs
- Cutaneous lesions - periocular alopecia extends to nasal skin and ears. Exfoliative dermatitis, nodular dermatitis, ulcerative dermatitis generalized particularly involving extremities .
- Claw abnormalities.
- Progressive weight loss.
- Anemia .
- Hyperkeratosis .
- Polyarthritis .
- Lethargy.
- Polydipsia /polyuria (renal failure).
- Ulcerative and nodular dermatitis.
- Diarrhea .
- Abdominal distension.
