Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in naturally infected dogs in Salta, Argentina

TARANTO NJ, MARINCONZ R, CAFFARO CE, CAJAL SP, MALCHIODI EL.

REVISTA ARGENTINA DE MICROBIOLOGíA

ASOCIACION ARGENTINA MICROBIOLOGIA

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2000 vol. 32 p. 129 - 135

0325-7541

The objective of the present study is to describe two cases of dogs withmucocutaneous lesions caused by Leishmania spp. Both dogs presented destructionof the nasal septum, hyperemia with soft palate edema and barking alteration due to laryngeal compromise. Biopsies were taken from the lesion border andLeishmania spp. amastigotes were seen in the imprints. The dogs presentedpositive serology when complex soluble antigen from Leishmania mexicana was used.One of the dogs was also suspected to be infected by Trypanosoma cruzi assuggested by its positive reaction with a purified specific antigen,Ag163B6-cruzipain. Most of the studies concerning leishmaniosis in dogs havedescribed the cutaneous form of this disease in close association with humancases of Leishmania infection instead of the mucocutaneous form described herein.The presence of dogs with mucocutaneous leishmaniosis alerts on an increase ofthe prevalence of this form in humans, which can cause deforming lesions,alterations of the speech and even an inadequate nutrition due to difficulties indeglutition.