What is Leishmaniasis?
	Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease affecting dogs and transmitted by a certain type of mosquito (Phlebotomus). Female knats may bite an infected animal and take the protozoa (Leishmania genus) in the blood she sucks. Within a few days, these parasites will have changed their morphology inside the insect, and become infectious.
We would like to make it very clear that there is no possibility of direct contagion between animals or between animals and persons. The only possible means of transmission is via the Phlebotom. Also, whereas in the dog, Leishmaniasis is a chronic illness requiring continuous treatment, there are very few cases of human infection, basically only in cases of a depressed immunity system (people with AIDS, Leukaemia…), and the treatment in humans is most effective. The Leishmania reside in the blood and bone marrow. From 4 to 6 months may pass from the moment of the bite to the appearance of the disease, which is not detectable during this phase, and does not even show in a blood test. After this period, some of the symptoms that may appear are: very long nails, infarted ganglia, bald patches in certain areas of the body such as the ears and around the eyes, and thinness despite a good appetite and regular meals. At the same time, the parasite affects the internal organs (liver, kidneys…) and the animal’s health begins to fail badly. However, once the disease has been detected, there exists a treatment which permits animals to enjoy a good quality of life for many years, and even die of old age if living in a good environment and receiving the correct attention. This treatment isolates the parasite in the bone marrow, nullifying its effect, and the symptoms disappear. When no treatment is given, or the subject does not respond, the animal’s health declines and euthanasia is recommended. Prevention Leishmaniasis is endemic in some areas of the Community of Madrid and along the Mediterranean coast, and is also present in other inland regions of Spain. If a dog is given no protection at all, the risk of acquiring this disease varies between 3% and 18%. The risk is always greater if the animal resides in rural and suburban areas, in hot parts of the country, and if it remains outdoors at nightfall. As there exists no vaccination, the only way to control the disease is by prevention: The mosquito lives in spring, summer, and even autumn if the weather is warm, being specially active at nightfall, dawn, and during the night. It is therefore advisable not to take or leave the dog outdoors at these times, and that it sleep indoors. Repellents and insecticides should also be applied during these seasons with the regularity and in the amounts recommended by the vet. It is also advisable to submit our pet every autumn-winter to a specific test to detect this disease, as the treatment is more effective when there is an early diagnosis. Treatment If the clinical symptoms of the disease are observed, take your dog to a veterinary clinic for a serologic test to see if it is really suffering from this disease. The treatment will be more successful if started in the initial phases of the illness, hence the importance of annual testing. The symptoms disappear under treatment and your pet will be able to enjoy a good quality of life for many years even if the result is positive. The therapy involves alopurinol tablets, and antomonial medicines (glucantime), applied under prescription by the vet, according to the individual requirements of each animal. Regular check-ups 2 or 3 times a year should be carried out to monitor the evolution of the disease and detect possible relapses, in which case the treatment should be repeated.
Approximate cost of treatment: Tests: IFI + proteinogram: €35.00 (2 or 3 times a year) Zyloric 300 (box of 30 tablets, lasting one month) €3.43 Glucantime (box of 10 phials) €4.93 * * (a 30 day therapy for a large dog usually requires 6 boxes, at a rate of two 5 ml doses per day)