A vet from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has recently been involved in diagnosing the first case of leishmaniosis in a dog from the UK that has not travelled to an endemic area.
The team suspect the reason for the spread in this case is dog to dog transmission.
Leishmaniosis is caused by the parasite Leishmania infantum and is endemic in some areas of Europe but not in the UK. In these areas, the infection is carried by female sand-flies and spread through sand-fly bites. Transmission has also been reported via dog bites from an infected dog and infected blood transfusions, although these routes have not previously been reported in the UK.
Dogs with Leishmaniosis display a range of signs that can take months to years to develop after initial infection. Typical signs include:
- Weight loss
- Lack of energy or enthusiasm
- Increased thirst and increased urination
- Changes to the skin (particularly around the eyes, ears and feet)
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Lameness due to joint pain
- Sudden nose bleeds
- Soreness around the eyes
Treatment is available for dogs with leishmaniosis, but infection is difficult to clear and long term medication is often needed. Leishmaniosis can be zoonotic – meaning it can be passed to people in rare situations.
The team involved in diagnosing this case, which included Myles McKenna of the RVC, have warned owners to be “extra vigilant” for possible cases of leishmaniasis even without a direct travel history. Both vets and pet owners are urged to be aware of the referenced symptoms.
UK vets have published a further report in the Veterinary Record, in which they outlined a further case of leishmaniosis in a dog suspected of contracting the disease via sand-flies unintentionally brought back in their owners’ luggage following a trip to Spain.
Myles McKenna, internal medicine clinical training resident at the RVC, and author of the case report said: “It is important to take note of this first reported case of likely dog-to-dog transmission of Leishmania infantum in the UK. Historically we had considered this to be a condition affecting dogs with a travel history to areas where Leishmania infantum is endemic.
“Dog-to-dog transmission in non-endemic areas has previously been reported, for example in the USA, but this case serves as a reminder to UK veterinary surgeons that we must be vigilant for conditions such as Leishmania in non-travelled dogs and that alternative transmission mechanisms do exist.”
