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Diagnosis:

By blood test to detect Leishmania antibodies (ELISA
test); more complex tests for identification can be done
like a PCR test.

We recommended annual antibody testing
for all our rehomed galgos.

Treatment and prevention:

If the dog shows any of the clinical signs found above
and it has been in an endemic area it should be taken to
the veterinarian and let the veterinarian know in which
country the dog has been to. The main drugs used for the treatment of
leishmaniasis are the pentavalent antimony meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol.

Miltefosine is a relatively new anti-leishmanial drug that can be used for the
first month of treatment in combination with allopurinol instead of meglumine
antimoniate. Amphotericin B is also used but it is highly nephrotoxic (Toxic for
the kidneys). These treatments are often designed to improve the dog’s condition
temporarily but sometimes the disease can reoccur. The treatment does not
eliminate the parasite. Keeping infected dogs where the sandfly is present needs
to be thought about as a treated dog is considered as a carrier and can transmit
the parasite via the sandfly to other dogs and people.

In endemic countries dogs are given topical insecticides in Deltamethrin-
impregnated collars or spot-on drops to reduce the number of sandfly bites.

A new vaccination has been licenced in Europe offering protection against
Leishmaniasis. This vaccination should only be given to dogs that test negative
for diseases and will be particularly useful for dogs travelling to areas where
Leishmaniasis is endemic. Trials are currently underway to test the use of this
vaccine in animals previously exposed to Leishmaniasis but results are not
expected for at least 5-10 years!

More information can be found on our website www.greyhoundsinneed.co.uk

Leigh Sobye BVSc MRCVS

All products mentioned are off licensed use in the UK as currently no licensed
products exist.

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