Vaccination against canine leishmaniasis in Brazil.

Prevention of canine Leishmania infantum infection is critical to management of visceral leishmaniasis in people living in endemic areas of Brazil. A bill (PL 1738/11), currently under consideration, proposes to establish a national vaccination policy against canine leishmaniasis in Brazil. However, there is no solid scientific evidence supporting the idea that this could reduce transmission from infected vaccinated dogs to sand flies to a level that would significantly reduce the risk of L. infantum infection or visceral leishmaniasis in humans. Thus, we advocate that insecticide-impregnated collars should the first line protective measure for public health purposes and that vaccines are applied on a case-by-case, optional basis for individual dog protection.

Canine Leishmaniosis: tools for diagnosis in veterinary practice in Colombia / Leishmaniosis canina: herramientas para el diagnóstico en la consulta veterinaria en Colombia

The objective of this article is to perform a critical analysis and guide veterinarians in the management of canine Leishmaniosis. A systematic literature review was performed between 2005 and 2014 including scientific papers which take into account experiences and reports of: pathogenesis, diagnosis, clinical presentation, treatment, vaccination, prevention and control strategies. We discuss the different aspects of VL management and aspects that should be taken into account depending on the country, after a patient is suspected or confirmed as positive, including the possibility of euthanasia. We describe the different clinical manifestations of the disease, diagnosis, signs and treatment of canine leishmaniosis. Canine leishmaniosis is present in different parts of the country, therefore it must be considered as a possible differential diagnosis in the veterinary clinic, in patients with dermatological and systemic signs that are compatible with various diseases. In Colombia, the patients diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis could be treated and have a favorable prognosis, whereas in canines with diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis euthanasia should be considered because of the public health implications.

Se realiza un análisis crítico con el fin de orientar a los médicos veterinarios en el tema de Leishmaniosis canina. Se realizó una revisión de literatura a partir del año 2005 de manera sistemática considerando artículos científicos donde se tuvieran en cuenta experiencias y reportes de la patogenia, diagnóstico, presentación clínica de la enfermedad, tratamiento, la vacunación, el abordaje de los casos, estrategias de prevención y control y las consideraciones que se deben tener, según el país, ante la sospecha o confirmación de un paciente positivo, entre estos aspectos, la eutanasia. Se presentan las diferentes manifestaciones clínicas de la enfermedad, el diagnóstico, los signos y tratamiento de un paciente sospechoso para leishmaniosis canina, a manera de orientación para el profesional de la clínica veterinaria. La leishmaniosis canina se encuentra presente en diferentes partes del país, por lo que debe considerarse como posible diagnóstico diferencial en la clínica veterinaria, en pacientes con signos dermatológicos y sistémicos que son compatibles con diversas enfermedades. En Colombia, los pacientes diagnosticados con leishmaniosis cutánea podrían ser tratados y tener un pronóstico favorable, mientras que en los caninos con diagnóstico de leishmaniosis visceral debe considerarse la eutanasia por las implicaciones en salud pública.