canine leishmaniasis

This review has limited information about pathogenesis, incidence and risk factor and treatment and way of prevention of canine leishmaniasis. canine leishmaniasis caused by the leishmania infantum is a worldwide neglected tropical disease and transmitted to human by bite of female sand flies. this parasite causes visceral, cutaneous, and mucosal leishmaniasis in people in the mediterranean basin, north africa, south america, and west asia. confirmation of the etiology of the infection can be obtained using different direct and indirect laboratory diagnostic methods: parasitological, molecular, and serological. the parasites disseminate through the lymphatic and vascular systems and infect other monocytes and macrophages in reticuloendothelial system. parasites have been found in every part of the body, except probably, the central nervous system. the main presenting signs are weakness, decreased physical activity, skin disease and weight loss. anorexia, if present, is probably related to renal failure. visceral leishmaniasis spreads infection systematically. comparison of infection rate between two sexes showed no significant differences between males and females. but age can effective in infection rate. recent studies demonstrated that the application of a repellant deltamethrin collar to dog can protect them from sand flies’ bites and prevent leishmania infection. established a staging system for dogs that classified the disease in four stages: stage i (asymptomatic to mild disease), stage ii (moderate disease), stage iii (severe disease associated with chronic kidney disease), and stage iv (very severe disease) stage iv should be treated with allopurinol alone, in order to avoid further kidney damage. parasite develops dermatological sequela in animal and human. this parasite should be diagnosed with pcr, lamp, lymph node or bone marrow smear stain. treatment according to the stage of the disease is different. given that disease is worldwide, the best way to prevention is reduce density of vector host and use application of a repellant deltamethrin collar in dogs.