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Papular dermatitis due to Leishmania infantum infection in seventeen dogs: diagnostic features, extent of the infection and treatment outcome.
- Source :
-
Parasites & vectors [Parasit Vectors] 2014 Mar 24; Vol. 7, pp. 120. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Mar 24. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Unlabelled: :<br />Background: This study describes immunological responses, diagnostic features, follow up and treatment outcomes from seventeen dogs with papular dermatitis due to Leishmania infection diagnosed by cytology or real time-PCR.<br />Methods: Specific Leishmania humoral and cellular immune responses were evaluated by means of an immunofluorescence antibody test in all cases and a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction to leishmanin in eight cases. The extent of infection was studied in several tissues including blood, lymph node, conjunctival and oral swabs, by means of PCR, at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up. Culture was performed on nine dogs from cutaneous lesions and lymph node aspirates and molecular typing was carried out on isolates based on ITS-1, ITS-2 and Haspb gene sequencing analysis.<br />Results: Cytological and molecular results from fine needle aspirates of papules were diagnostic in 8 out of 13 (61.5%) cases and in 14 out of 15 dogs (93.3%), respectively. In all dogs, specific anti-Leishmania antibody levels were low or absent. Blood and lymph node PCRs and lymph node culture were negative in all dogs. Three out of the nine dogs (33%) were positive by culture from cutaneous lesions. The three isolates were identified as ITS type A, however, polymorphism was observed in the Haspb gene (PCR products of 626 bp, 962 bp and 371 bp). DTH response was positive in all tested dogs at the time of diagnosis. The majority of dogs were successfully treated with only N-methylglucamine antimoniate, after which cutaneous lesions disappeared or were reduced to depigmented, flattened scars. All dogs remained seronegative and the majority of dogs were negative by PCR in several tissues during follow-up.<br />Conclusions: This study points out that papular dermatitis due to L. infantum is probably an underestimated benign cutaneous problem, associated with a parasite specific cell mediated immunity and a poor humoral immune response. Papular dermatitis is seen in young dogs, and appears to be a mild disease with restricted parasite dissemination and a good prognosis. PCR can be used as a non-invasive method to routinely evaluate papules if Leishmania infection is suspected in cases in which parasites are not visualized by cytology.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Antigens, Protozoan genetics
Antigens, Protozoan immunology
DNA, Protozoan chemistry
DNA, Protozoan genetics
DNA, Ribosomal Spacer chemistry
DNA, Ribosomal Spacer genetics
Dermatitis complications
Dermatitis diagnosis
Dermatitis immunology
Dog Diseases diagnosis
Dog Diseases immunology
Dogs
Female
Leishmania infantum classification
Leishmania infantum cytology
Leishmania infantum immunology
Leishmaniasis, Visceral complications
Leishmaniasis, Visceral diagnosis
Leishmaniasis, Visceral immunology
Male
Meglumine Antimoniate
Molecular Typing veterinary
Prognosis
Protozoan Proteins genetics
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction veterinary
Sequence Analysis, DNA veterinary
Skin Tests
Treatment Outcome
Antibodies, Protozoan immunology
Dermatitis veterinary
Dog Diseases parasitology
Leishmania infantum isolation & purification
Leishmaniasis, Visceral veterinary
Meglumine therapeutic use
Organometallic Compounds therapeutic use
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1756-3305
- Volume :
- 7
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Parasites & vectors
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 24661822
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-120