Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), also known as Calazar, is a disease caused by a protozoa of the genus Leishmania that affects dogs, considered the main reservoirs of the urban cycle of the disease, through which humans can also become infected.as a zoonotic.
LVC is transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes belonging to the phlebotoma family. This vector is popularly known as the straw mosquito, canyon mosquito, birigui or tatuquiras, and it is very widespread in Brazil because it is a country with a tropical climate that allows its reproduction.
- LVC has gained notoriety in recent years due to its rapid and serious growth.
- As well as the increase in the number of infected animals and humans.
The LVC is mainly transmitted by the bite of the protozoan mosquito, which has the form of promastigote and is transmitted to the dog at the time of the bite.Once inside the body of the animal, the protozoa will induce a series of reactions in the part of the immune system and, subsequently, its proliferation until the onset of clinical signs of the disease.
When the mosquito bites an infected dog and, soon after, it bites another dog or even a human, the transmission of the protozoa occurs and, therefore, LVC (at this stage, the protozoa will be in the form of amastigote) . It is important to note that once transmission occurs, the protozoa will always follow the body of the animal.
LVC is a disease that can present many clinical signs in the dog, since the action of the protozoa is present in virtually all organs of the body, however, there are a number of signs that are more common and often suggest the suspicion of the disease they suffer.Are:
The diagnosis of LVC should be made exclusively by a veterinarian, who will take into account the general clinical condition of the animal, as well as specific laboratory tests that may indicate the presence or absence of the protozoa in the body.
The treatment of CVL has been very much discussed, not only in the veterinary field, but also in the legal field, because since it is a zoonotic disease, this disease in humans is as serious as in animals, in addition, if not treated properly, it can lead to death in a short period of time.
Treatment is based on a combination of medications aimed at relieving symptoms caused by the disease, as well as improving the patient’s overall condition.Currently they are available in the pentavalent antimonial market such as methylglucamine antimoniate, which are drugs that directly affect the protozoa, helping much to control it It should be noted that for LVC there is only one clinical remedy, that is, once the treatment is stipulated, the animal returns to its health status, but will always be carrier of the disease, since there is no treatment capable of completely eliminating the protozoa from the body.
The only way to prevent leishmaniasis is to avoid biting the mosquito vector of the disease, which requires chemical and management methods that together reduce the risk of disease transmission.
The application of residual-acting insecticides in areas close to homes and kennels, such as deltamethrin and cypermethrin, is indicated every six months.Care must also be taken to clean up the environment, avoiding the accumulation of organic matter and reducing the mosquito-friendly microbiota.The installation of fine screens in houses and kennels is also a measure to be taken in endemic areas, if the lemongrass plantation is also indicated in the yard or near the residence, this plant emanates an odor that repels the mosquito and is very effective in prevention.
The use of topical insecticides in the form of collars, pipettes or aerosols is very effective to protect the dog from mosquitoes, as well as being easy to apply and affordable.The use of collars impregnated with deltamethrin (Scalibor®) has shown good results in the fight against disease transmission.In addition to topical insecticides, it is recommended in endemic areas not to expose animals and avoid walks at dusk and night, as it is the busiest periods of mosquitoes that transmit the disease.
Prevention of CVL through immunization with specific vaccines is an important preventive aid and has become common in recent times.The LVC vaccine prevents the protozoa from completing its cycle, eliminating the course of transmission and therefore the development of clinical signs.vaccines are now available on the market, such as Leishmune®, Leish-Tec® and LiESAp, all of which have scientific evidence of their preventive action.
Euthanasia of dogs infected with CVL is widely discussed and involves topics such as science, ethics and animal welfare, currently it is already known that euthanasia as a form of control is totally ineffective in the control and prevention of CVL, treatment, immunization and use.mosquito repellents as the most correct, ethical and effective way to control the disease.
Tip: Check out this article and discover all the most common diseases in dogs.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis, we suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any condition or discomfort.
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