Nostril mass caused by Leishmania spp. in a dog

Authors

  • Manuela Gizzarelli Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Napoli, Italy.
  • Valentina Foglia Manzillo Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Napoli, Italy.
  • Eleonora Fiorentino Unit of Vector-borne Diseases and International Health, MIPI Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
  • Aldo Scalone Unit of Vector-borne Diseases and International Health, MIPI Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome
  • Gaetano Oliva Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Napoli, Italy.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1460.7898.1

Abstract

Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a systemic zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania, an intracellular macrophage parasite, transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sandflies. In dogs, the clinical disease is mostly characterised by symptoms associated with viscerocutaneous lesions such as lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, skin lesions, and renal and ocular disease caused by the deposition of immune complexes. The parasite may provoke mucosal lesions which cause atypical clinical signs. The aim of this study is to describe an atypical nostril mass in a dog infected by Leishmania. Clinical examination did not show any systemic clinical signs, while haematological, biochemical, and urinary parameters demonstrated a mild disease stage. Diagnosis was confirmed through the isolation of cultured live parasites by biopsy. The dog was treated with a combination of miltefosine and allopurinol, showing full remission of clinical symptoms after 2 months. The authors outline the importance of considering CanL in the differential diagnosis of mucous and tumour-like lesions.

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Published

2019-01-04

How to Cite

Gizzarelli, M., Foglia Manzillo, V., Fiorentino, E., Scalone, A., & Oliva, G. (2019). Nostril mass caused by Leishmania spp. in a dog. Veterinaria Italiana, 54(3), 237–241. https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1460.7898.1

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