Canine visceral leishmaniasis: dermatological aspects and associated dermatoses / Leishmaniose visceral canina: aspectos dermatológicos e dermatoses associadas

ABSTRACT

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania chagasi (syn. L. infantum). The dog is the main reservoir for this infectious agent in the urban environment. Among the various systemic signs of viscerotropic infection by L. chagasi, cutaneous lesions, including exfoliative dermatitis, cutaneous ulcers and nodules, alopecia, papular or pustular dermatitis, and onychogryphosis, are the most common in dogs. This study aimed to describe the major cutaneous lesions, evaluate the skin parasite L. chagasi by PCR, and investigate the main dermatoses associated with this zoonosis. Materials, Methods & Results: This study evaluated 50 seropositive dogs of various breeds and sizes for VL by ELISA and IFA and for the dermatological signs associated with VL. Moreover, molecular analysis of skin fragments was performed with primers 150 and 152 for the genus Leishmania, and the species was verified as L. chagasi with RV1 and RV2 primers. Deep skin scraping for mites and fungal culture analysis were performed in all dogs. Of the 50 dogs, 15 (30%) were free of systemic or cutaneous signs; however, changes in skin and annexes were observed in 35 (70%) dogs. Thirty-one dogs (62%) presented infection with dermatophytes, 26 (83.9%) with Microsporum sp., and 5 (16.1%) with Trichophyton sp.; only one dog showed parasitism by Sarcoptes scabiei. A statistically [...](AU)