Drug treatment of leishmaniasis in dogs is a challenge for veterinary practitioners. Because of its complex pathogenesis, leishmaniasis may manifest with various clinical signs, ranging from mild and nonspecific to those reflecting severe involvement of several organs. The immune response plays an important role in the development, outcome, and response to treatment of Leishmania infection in dogs.1 All known anti- Leishmania drugs used in dogs can lead to temporary or permanent remission of clinical signs, but none are sufficient to eliminate the infection.2 Indeed, all anti- Leishmania drugs currently used in dogs were discovered and developed to treat leishmaniasis in humans. Most therapeutic protocols were developed through human clinical studies and thereafter adapted to dogs, often without sufficient pharmacokinetic information relevant to dogs. In dogs, the objectives of anti-Leishmania treatment are typically to induce a general reduction of the parasite load, to treat organ damage caused by the parasite, to restore efficient immune responses, to stabilize a drug-induced clinical improvement, and to treat clinical relapse. The most widely used drugs are described in the present report. In addition, we propose a 5-class staging of leishmaniasis that can help in choosing the most appropriate anti-Leishmania treatment. As with our guidelines for diagnosis of leishmaniasis in dogs,3 the guidelines reported here are an updated version of those originally published in Italian in Veterinaria, the official journal of the Italian Society of Veterinarians Guidelines for treatment of leishmaniasis in dogs of Companion Animals, and are based on a thorough review of international literature and, where data are inadequate or incomplete, are supplemented with the experience of Canine Leishmaniasis Working Group members. The present guidelines are limited to specific antiparasite drugs and are not intended to cover other ancillary drugs that are often necessary during treatment of leishmaniasis in dogs.
Guidelines for treatment of leishmaniasis in dogs
Zatelli A.;
2010-01-01
Abstract
Drug treatment of leishmaniasis in dogs is a challenge for veterinary practitioners. Because of its complex pathogenesis, leishmaniasis may manifest with various clinical signs, ranging from mild and nonspecific to those reflecting severe involvement of several organs. The immune response plays an important role in the development, outcome, and response to treatment of Leishmania infection in dogs.1 All known anti- Leishmania drugs used in dogs can lead to temporary or permanent remission of clinical signs, but none are sufficient to eliminate the infection.2 Indeed, all anti- Leishmania drugs currently used in dogs were discovered and developed to treat leishmaniasis in humans. Most therapeutic protocols were developed through human clinical studies and thereafter adapted to dogs, often without sufficient pharmacokinetic information relevant to dogs. In dogs, the objectives of anti-Leishmania treatment are typically to induce a general reduction of the parasite load, to treat organ damage caused by the parasite, to restore efficient immune responses, to stabilize a drug-induced clinical improvement, and to treat clinical relapse. The most widely used drugs are described in the present report. In addition, we propose a 5-class staging of leishmaniasis that can help in choosing the most appropriate anti-Leishmania treatment. As with our guidelines for diagnosis of leishmaniasis in dogs,3 the guidelines reported here are an updated version of those originally published in Italian in Veterinaria, the official journal of the Italian Society of Veterinarians Guidelines for treatment of leishmaniasis in dogs of Companion Animals, and are based on a thorough review of international literature and, where data are inadequate or incomplete, are supplemented with the experience of Canine Leishmaniasis Working Group members. The present guidelines are limited to specific antiparasite drugs and are not intended to cover other ancillary drugs that are often necessary during treatment of leishmaniasis in dogs.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
