Clinical and laboratory response of domiciled dogs with visceral leishmaniasis treated with miltefosine and allopurinol

• Published in: Tropical medicine and infectious disease Vol. 8; no. 10; pp. 1 - 12
• Main Authors: Vaz, Talita Pereira, Quaresma, Patrícia Flávia, Rêgo, Felipe Dutra, Souza, Camila Binder, Fontes, Gilberto, Gontijo, Célia Maria Ferreira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland MDPI 01-10-2023; MDPI AG
• Subjects: Allopurinol; Animals; Bone marrow; Breeding; dog; Dogs; Drug dosages; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Enzymes; Evaluation; Hematology; Immunological aspects; Kala-azar; Laboratories; Leishmania; Leishmania infantum; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Parasitic diseases; Protozoa; Serology; Signal transduction; Skin; Societies, etc; treatment; Brazil; France; United States > US
• ISSN: 2414-6366; 2414-6366
• DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8100472

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) remains a significant disease worldwide. In Brazil, its treatment is performed using miltefosine, which has demonstrated promising outcomes in dogs. This study represents the first attempt to treat and monitor dogs with CVL in natural conditions over the course of one year. The dogs were divided into two groups: G1 received miltefosine and allopurinol for 28 days, while G2 received miltefosine for 28 days, followed by allopurinol for one year. The follow-up involved clinical, hematological, and biochemical evaluations, as well as the detection of 'Leishmania' DNA in skin and bone marrow samples. By the end of the follow-up, dogs in G2 exhibited improved staging compared to their initial conditions, whereas those in G1 showed worsened staging. 'Leishmania' DNA in skin and bone marrow decreased between 6 and 12 months after treatment. Our observations indicate that the treatment using miltefosine reduces the detection of the parasite in the skin and bone marrow for up to one year following its administration. The continuous use of allopurinol contributes to control of the disease in dogs. These findings provide valuable insights into the response of dogs treated in natural conditions, offering essential information for veterinarians and public health authorities.