Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis: Dermatological Aspects and Associated Dermatoses

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 significant association was observed between skin alterations and dermatological infection by dermatophytes (P = 0.61). Of the 29 dogs from which skin fragments were used to perform PCR with specific primers, 19 (65.5%) showed L. chagasi DNA amplification.Discussion: Symptomatic dogs are more common than asymptomatic ones; therefore, sampling was set up in the hospital for reagents dogs with clinical suspicion of this zoonosis. Dermatological signs accounted for 70% of the clinical symptoms presented by the dogs, which were evaluated as described by other authors. Exfoliative dermatitis was the most common skin lesion followed by onychogryphosis and alopecia. This is because of granulomatous or pyogranulomatous inflammation, inflammation in different structures of the skin, or deposition of immune complexes. Only few studies have described the co-existence of VL and dermatophytosis in dogs. We found dermatophyte fungal infection in more than half of the dogs (70%), most frequently Microsporum sp. followed by infection with Trichophyton sp. Regarding the clinical signs, no statistical difference was observed between the dogs with and without dermatophyte infection, which reinforces the lack of specificity in clinical signs that may hinder the diagnosis of both diseases when present as co-morbidities or in isolation. The high frequency of dermatophytosis in dogs with VL may result from a compromised immune system. L. chagasi DNA detected in 65.5% of samples tested by conventional PCR can be related to the host’s immune response, as well as to the uneven distribution of the parasite in different tissues. These results support the high frequency of skin changes and concomitant skin diseases like ringworm observed in dogs with LV, highlighting the importance of researching other differential diagnoses in endemic areas.

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Miltefosine Administration in Cats with Refractory Sporotrichosis

Acta Scientiae Veterinariae ◽

10.22456/1679-9216.83639 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 7

Author(s):

Francina Dos Santos Silva ◽

Simone Carvalho dos Santos Cunha ◽

Andrea Regina de Souza Baptista ◽

Vivian Dos Santos Baptista ◽

Kássia Valéria Gomes Coelho da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Sporothrix Schenckii ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Parasite Load ◽

Small Population ◽

Fungal Culture ◽

Cutaneous Lesions

Background: Sporotrichosis is a zoonosis caused by fungi of the Sporothrix schenckii complex. Cats have important zoonotic potential due to the high parasite load found in the cutaneous lesions. Refractory cases to antifungal therapy are increasing, becoming a public health problem. Miltefosine is a drug with high in vitro activity against Sporothrix brasiliensis. However, this efficacy has not been confirmed in vivo yet and administration has not been studied in the feline species. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of miltefosine administration in cats with resistant sporotrichosis.Materials, Methods & Results: Ten cats with refractory sporotrichosis were included in this study. Inclusion criteria were previous diagnosis for sporotrichosis associated with therapy with oral antifungals (itraconazole and/or potassium iodide) for more than one year, followed by one of these conditions: incomplete clinical remission, worsening of disease during treatment or recurrence after conventional treatment. Cats underwent clinical and dermatological examinations. Data on lifestyle and previous treatments were provided by the owners. Fungal culture and histochemical techniques were performed in all cats before miltefosine treatment. Blood samples were collected before and during the study for laboratory tests, such as blood count, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase, as well as serology for Feline Immunodeficiency (FIV) and Feline Leukemia (FeLV). Miltefosine was prescribed at a dosage of 2 mg/kg orally every 24 h. The animals were monitored by phone during the whole process and reassessed on days 0, 15, 30 and 45 of the treatment. Out of 10 cats, lesions were present on the nose in nine, ears in four, periocular areas in one and limbs in four. One cat received treatment for 45 days, six for 30 days, one for 21 days, one for 15 days and one for 3 days. One cat showed no response to the treatment and nine showed disease progression. Hyporexia and weight loss were the most frequent clinical signs related to miltefosine treatment, followed by sialorrhea, vomiting and diarrhea. Few adverse effects on hematology and biochemistry (mainly renal and hepatic parameters) were observed during the study. Hematocrit decrease was observed in four animals. However, only one cat had hematocrit decrease below normal values (anemia), which was already present before miltefosine administration. Other cats had a decrease of five points. Three cats showed elevation in leucometria and four in plasma protein. In relation to renal and hepatic biochemistry, one animal showed a BUN increase and another one showed a transient increase in ALT. Two animals started the treatment with increased ALT but had no problems during the study and values decreased even during the miltefosine administration.Discussion: Although two cats showed sialorrhea, most owners did not report difficulty in administering the drug orally, representing an advantage of this medication. Weight loss, secondary to gastrointestinal changes, was the most clinically relevant alteration. The most frequent hematological alteration was hematocrit decrease and only the animal that started the study with 20% hematocrit ended the study with anemia. Renal and hepatic parameters were not significant in the cats of this study. Miltefosine did not lead to sporotrichosis remission in this small population of cats, which reveals that, despite its in vitro efficacy against Sporothrix spp., the drug is not effective in vivo in the feline species. Further studies are needed to investigate the efficacy of this drug in a larger number of cats, and possible reasons for its in vivo ineffectiveness.

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Canine sporotrichosis: report of 15 advanced cases

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/1678-5150-pvb-4562 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 477-481 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mariana B. Mascarenhas ◽

Natália L. Lopes ◽

Thiago G. Pinto ◽

Thiago S. Costa ◽

André P. Peixoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rio De Janeiro ◽

Skin Diseases ◽

Sporothrix Schenckii ◽

The Body ◽

Nasal Discharge ◽

Fungal Culture ◽

Dimorphic Fungus ◽

Cutaneous Lesions ◽

Distal Aspect ◽

Disseminated Disease

ABSTRACT: Sporotrichosis is a chronic, granulomatous and usually lymphocutaneous infection of animals and humans, caused by a dimorphic fungus, Sporothrix schenckii complex. The disease in dogs is considered rare, however, in the last years a crescent registration of cases was observed in Brazil, especially in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Fifteen dogs with ulcerated cutaneous lesions were seen at the Dermatology Service in the Small Animal’s Hospital at Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, between January 2014 and October 2015. Most lesions were located on the head, mainly the nose. Lesions were even seen on the chest, disseminated on the body and on the limbs. Three dogs (20%) exhibited the cutaneous-lymphatic form, with lesions initially on the distal aspect of one leg and ascending via lymphatics up the leg to the trunk and head. It was not ruled out the disseminated form in at least 3 dogs (20%). They had consistent signs of generalized or disseminated disease exhibiting respiratory symptoms (nasal discharge, sneezing, stertorous breathing), anorexia and weight loss. Draining tracts and cellulitis were very common. Some had large areas of skin necrosis with exposure of muscle and bone. Definitive diagnosis was obtained by cytological examination of exudates, histological examination, and/or isolation of S. schenckii complex by fungal culture. Because of the severity of the lesions that mimic other disorders like neoplasms or autoimmune skin diseases, and due to the difficulties of getting an accurate diagnosis, this study describes 15 advanced cases of canine sporotrichosis.

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Isolation of dermatophytes from 50 asymptomatic domestic cats treated at the Federal University of Mato Grosso Veterinary – Hospital in Cuiabá, MT

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2016v37n4p2003 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 2003 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Samara Rosolem Lima ◽

Wagner Aparecido da Silva ◽

Marcelo Marques da Silveira ◽

Rita de Cássia Da Silva Machado Neves ◽

Valéria Dutra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infection Rate ◽

Skin Diseases ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Microsporum Canis ◽

Fungal Culture ◽

Chi Square ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

Dermatophytic Fungi ◽

Veterinary Hospital ◽

Dermatophyte Infection

Dermatophytosis, commonly known as ringworm, is a zoonotic disease caused by complex fungi that grow as hyphae and attach to the skin, hair and nails or claws. About 40 species of fungi of the genera Microsporum spp., Trichophyton spp. and Epidermophyton spp. are considered dermatophytes, and Microsporum canis is the genus most commonly isolated from cats. This study investigated the occurrence of dermatophytes in cats without clinical signs of skin diseases. The study involved the physical examination of 50 clinically healthy cats and the collection of samples for direct examination and fungal culture at a university veterinary hospital. The resulting data were evaluated by the chi-square association test. Of the 50 cats, 11 (22%) presented dermatophytes, with a predominance of Microsporum spp. The other 39 animals were diagnosed for non-dermatophytic fungi. Sex, breed and the presence of contactants showed no statistical difference, although there was a predominance of adult animals. The high dermatophyte infection rate confirms that cats without clinical signs can harbor these fungi, acting as asymptomatic carriers, contaminating the environment and increasing the infection rate. This study confirms that cats without clinical signs can be carriers of ringworm, which underscores the importance of the adoption of control methods even for clinically healthy animals.

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LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS AND CLINICAL SIGNS OF CANINE VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN DOGS EXAMINED AT THE CENTER FOR ZOONOSIS CONTROL IN CAMPO GRANDE – MS, BRAZIL

Archives of Veterinary Science ◽

10.5380/avs.v17i4.24951 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Rodrigo Casquero Cunha ◽

Renato Andreotti ◽

Elaine Silva ◽

Elisângela Pereira ◽

Tayra Sato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Fluorescent Antibody ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Primary Source ◽

Laboratory Diagnosis ◽

Leishmania Species ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Mato Grosso

Visceral leishmaniasis is a type of zoonosis caused by several Leishmania species endemic to tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean climate regions. Dogs are the primary source of infection in urban areas and can be symptomatic or asymptomatic. This study focused on the observation of clinical signs of leishmaniasis in dogs in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Samples from affected animals were analyzed using indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) tests, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to determine the optimal diagnostic tool for use on animals that present clinical symptoms. A predominance of clinical symptoms affecting the integumentary system was observed, and splenomegaly and hepatomegaly were the most important pathological signs. Among the diagnostic tests, the greatest agreement was seen between ELISA and IFA, followed by ELISA and PCR, and finally IFA and PCR. PCR diagnostic results showed the greatest extent of correlation with clinical signs, followed by ELISA and then IFA. When choosing a diagnostic method, veterinarians should consider the clinical signs and health status of the patient.

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Clinical considerations on canine visceral leishmaniasis in Greece: a retrospective study of 158 cases (1989-1996)

Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association ◽

10.5326/15473317-35-5-376 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 376-383 ◽

Cited By ~ 133

Author(s):

AF Koutinas ◽

ZS Polizopoulou ◽

MN Saridomichelakis ◽

D Argyriadis ◽

A Fytianou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lymph Node ◽

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Common Finding ◽

Cutaneous Lesions ◽

Female Ratio ◽

Exfoliative Dermatitis ◽

Glomerular Proteinuria ◽

Ulcerative Stomatitis

The medical records of 158 dogs with visceral leishmaniasis confirmed cytologically and/or serologically were reviewed. Ages of affected dogs varied from nine months to 15 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.3. The most common clinical manifestations of the disease were variable cutaneous lesions such as exfoliative dermatitis and skin ulcerations, chronic renal failure, peripheral lymphadenopathy or lymph node hypoplasia, masticatory muscle atrophy (i.e., chronic myositis), ocular lesions (i.e., conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, blepharitis, and uveitis), and poor body condition. Ascites, nephrotic syndrome, epistaxis, polyarthritis, and ulcerative stomatitis were seen only in a small number of cases. Clinical splenomegaly was not a common finding. The clinicopathological abnormalities were nonregenerative anemia, hyperproteinemia, glomerular proteinuria, and symptomatic or asymptomatic azotemia. In this study, an indirect immunofluorescence assay's diagnostic sensitivity was found to be higher than that of lymph node aspiration cytology.

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Clinical and histological recovery of non-thymoma-associated exfoliative dermatitis in a cat treated with ciclosporin A

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports ◽

10.1177/2055116920902307 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 205511692090230

Author(s):

Daniel Combarros ◽

Jean-Paul Moulin ◽

Sophie Correge ◽

Maxence Delverdier ◽

Marie-Christine Cadiergues

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Whole Body ◽

Dramatic Improvement ◽

Fungal Culture ◽

Sebaceous Glands ◽

Leukaemia Virus ◽

Exfoliative Dermatitis ◽

Ciclosporin A ◽

Skin Biopsies

Case summary A 6-year-old neutered female European Shorthair cat was referred for chronic, moderately pruritic, alopecic and exfoliative dermatosis that was unresponsive to antiparasitic, antibiotic or steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The cat presented with truncular alopecia and numerous whitish adherent scales covering the whole body. Differential diagnoses included sebaceous adenitis, dermatophytosis, demodicosis, exfoliative dermatitis associated or not with thymoma, drug reaction, feline immunodeficiency virus- or feline leukaemia virus-associated dermatoses, epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma, and Malassezia yeasts and/or bacterial overgrowth. Blood tests were within normal limits and the retrovirus tests were negative. Skin scrapings, fungal culture, coat brushing and skin cytology were negative for parasitic or microbial elements. Radiographs showed no signs of a thymic mass. Histological examination of skin biopsies revealed marked orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, lymphocytic (CD3+) interface dermatitis and mural folliculitis with absence of sebaceous glands and occasional apoptotic cells in different epidermal layers. Clinical and histological findings were consistent with non-thymoma-associated exfoliative dermatitis syndrome. Ciclosporin A (7 mg/kg) was administered once daily. A dramatic improvement was observed after 3 weeks. Ciclosporin A intake was then progressively spaced out as the clinical signs diminished. Skin biopsies revealed resolution of hyperkeratosis, disappearance of the inflammatory infiltrate and recovery of the sebaceous glands. Relevance and novel information T-cell infiltration with signs of epidermal cytotoxicity, in the absence of infectious agents or neoplastic process, suggests an immune-mediated process, and ciclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor, would be the drug of choice. This is the first report showing resolution of both the clinical and histological signs of non-thymoma-associated exfoliative dermatitis.

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Visceral Leishmaniasis: Asymptomatic Facts

10.5772/intechopen.101109 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Medhavi Sudarshan ◽

Sumit Sharan

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Donovani ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Protozoan Parasite ◽

Diagnostic Techniques ◽

Asymptomatic Infection ◽

Infected People ◽

Time Period ◽

Almost All

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) caused by protozoan parasite Leishmania is a vector borne disease and infection is limited not to human but also to animals worldwide. For infection identification and prevalence in both Leishmania endemic and nonendemic regions, several serological and genetic techniques are used. Although diagnostic techniques and clinical symptoms can establish illness status, it is extremely difficult to diagnose infection in the absence of symptoms. Asymptomatic are healthy people who have an infection but are unaware of it. The epidemiology of asymptomatic Leishmaniasis is critical for its eradication. Only a small percentage of infected people are clinically suspected of having VL, as the majority of them may not show any symptoms and remain asymptomatic. Some asymptomatic infections may go away after a while, or they may linger for years, or they may develop to illness with clinical signs. Asymptomatic infection varies per endemic location, but almost all of them point to this hidden category of parasite infection. It is now critical to understand many factors such as diagnostic markers, genetic markers, and immunological markers along with different risk factors. All of these criteria, as well as some innovative techniques to diagnosing and controlling asymptomatic leishmaniasis, will be covered in this chapter. The main focus will be on asymptomatic condition of Indian Visceral Leishmaniasis, which is caused by Leishmania donovani and spreads via female sand fly P. argentipes biting. The numerous criteria that play a role in asymptomatic to symptomatic conversion in a specific time period will also be discussed in this chapter.

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Experimental infection of indigenous North African goats with goatpox virus

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica ◽

10.1186/s13028-021-00574-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 63 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jihane Hamdi ◽

Zahra Bamouh ◽

Mohammed Jazouli ◽

Meryem Alhyane ◽

Najet Safini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibody Response ◽

Experimental Infection ◽

Subcutaneous Tissue ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Economic Losses ◽

North African ◽

Cutaneous Lesions ◽

Viral Dna ◽

Goatpox Virus

Abstract Background Goatpox is a viral disease caused by infection with goatpox virus (GTPV) of the genus Capripoxvirus, Poxviridae family. Capripoxviruses cause serious disease to livestock and contribute to huge economic losses. Goatpox and sheeppox are endemic to Africa, particularly north of the Equator, the Middle East and many parts of Asia. GTPV and sheeppox virus are considered host-specific; however, both strains can cause clinical disease in either goats or sheep with more severe disease in the homologous species and mild or sub-clinical infection in the other. Goatpox has never been reported in Morocco, Algeria or Tunisia despite the huge population of goats living in proximity with sheep in those countries. To evaluate the susceptibility and pathogenicity of indigenous North African goats to GTPV infection, we experimentally inoculated eight locally bred goats with a virulent Vietnamese isolate of GTPV. Two uninfected goats were kept as controls. Clinical examination was carried out daily and blood was sampled for virology and for investigating the antibody response. After necropsy, tissues were collected and assessed for viral DNA using real-time PCR. Results Following the experimental infection, all inoculated goats displayed clinical signs characteristic of goatpox including varying degrees of hyperthermia, loss of appetite, inactivity and cutaneous lesions. The infection severely affected three of the infected animals while moderate to mild disease was noticed in the remaining goats. A high antibody response was developed. High viral DNA loads were detected in skin crusts and nodules, and subcutaneous tissue at the injection site with cycle threshold (Ct) values ranging from 14.6 to 22.9, while lower viral loads were found in liver and lung (Ct = 35.7 and 35.1). The results confirmed subcutaneous tropism of the virus. Conclusion Clinical signs of goatpox were reproduced in indigenous North African goats and confirmed a high susceptibility of the North African goat breed to GTPV infection. A clinical scoring system is proposed that can be applied in GTPV vaccine efficacy studies.

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Concentrations of canine prostate specific esterase, CPSE, at baseline are associated with the relative size of the prostate at three-year follow-up

BMC Veterinary Research ◽

10.1186/s12917-021-02874-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Bodil S. Holst ◽

Sofia Carlin ◽

Virginie Fouriez-Lablée ◽

Sofia Hanås ◽

Sofie Ödling ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Specific Antigen ◽

Relative Size ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Serum Concentrations ◽

Prostatic Disease ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Prostate Size ◽

Prostate Growth

Abstract Background Enlargement of the prostate is associated with prostatic diseases in dogs, and an estimation of prostatic size is a central part in the diagnostic workup. Ultrasonography is often the method of choice, but biomarkers constitute an alternative. Canine prostate specific esterase (CPSE) shares many characteristics with human prostate specific antigen (PSA) and is related to prostate size. In men with clinical symptoms of prostatic disease, PSA concentrations are related to prostate growth. The aims of the present follow-up study were to evaluate if the concentration of CPSE is associated with future growth of the prostate, and if analysis of a panel of 16 steroids gives further information on prostatic growth. Owners of dogs included in a previous study were 3 years later contacted for a follow-up study that included an interview and a clinical examination. The prostate was examined by ultrasonography. Serum concentrations of CPSE were measured, as was a panel of steroids. Results Of the 79 dogs included at baseline, owners of 77 dogs (97%) were reached for an interview, and 22 were available for a follow-up examination. Six of the 79 dogs had clinical signs of prostatic disease at baseline, and eight of the remaining 73 dogs (11%) developed clinical signs between baseline and follow-up, information was lacking for two dogs. Development of clinical signs was significantly more common in dogs with a relative prostate size of ≥2.5 at baseline (n = 20) than in dogs with smaller prostates (n = 51). Serum concentrations of CPSE at baseline were not associated with the change in prostatic size between baseline and follow-up. Serum concentrations of CPSE at baseline and at follow-up were positively associated with the relative prostatic size (Srel) at follow-up. Concentrations of corticosterone (P = 0.024), and the class corticosteroids (P = 0.0035) were positively associated with the difference in Srel between baseline and follow-up. Conclusions The results support the use of CPSE for estimating present and future prostatic size in dogs ≥4 years, and the clinical usefulness of prostatic size for predicting development of clinical signs of prostatic disease in the dog. The association between corticosteroids and prostate growth warrants further investigation.

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