Leishmaniasis

[Dilwyn]

One of our two Golden Retreivers has suffered

from a severe skin infection since our return from France in September.

Early diagnosis dismissed Leishmaniasis (an infection spread by sand

flies) as our dogs had not been to a risc area i.e. Mediterranean.

Since then our vets have tried every possible treatment including

steroids, antibiotics, antihistimines, special diets etc. Blood tests

and allergy test have taken place. Treaments have halted but not cued

the condition.

After referral to a skin specialist, Leishmaniasis has again been put

forward as a possibility. However, our dogs have never been south of

the northen Dordogne.

Does anyone know of any cases of Leishmaniasis in france outside of the tradition Mediterranean risk area?

Research in Italy has found the condition in dogs living in a

continental climate and who have never visited a Mediterranean climate

area.

Does this situation now also exist in france?

Sorry to be long winded but our dogs mean everything to us!

Thank you,

Steve & Chris

[Pierre ZFP]

A bit of Googling reveals (human) cases were the poor unfortunate had never been to a known infection area.  Leishmaniasis is endemic in Southern France and let's face it, the Dordogne is not that far away. More info here

http://www.petngarden.com/dogs/dogs39.php

Hope your dog will be OK, it sounds like a really nasty thing to get.

[Logan]

If your dog has never been south of the Dordogne I doubt the problem is Leishmanosis. The dog would have other symptoms such as bleeding from sores, particulary around the ears. The sandflies which infect the dog are not a problem when the temperature is less than 25C and then only during the night. Animals that sleep outside in such temperatures are vunerable because the sandflies can only fly about 1 metre from the ground. There is another disease from ticks which is similar to Leishmanosis and that is common in Dordogne. However the symptoms are not what you describe. I think it  more likely your dog is infected by a tiny mite which buries under the skin and breeds. You need to get a special shampoo from the vet and wash the dog every other day until the symptoms pass. Good luck.

[Dilwyn]

Since posting, we took a telephone call from our vet and as a result have now had samples taken this afternoon for Leishmanosis testing. We will get the results next week which I shall post.

As regards mites we have been using the special shampoo for more than 3 months without success which is one of the many reasons to investigate other causes.

Initial symptoms did include nasty ulcerated sores on the inner ear flaps and around the eyes which steroids have kept at bay since.

Treatment for yeast and fungal infections have not had any success either.

It's a real worry.

[Logan]

Well from the further information you post I think perhaps you are right to worry about Leishmanosis. Has the dog been exposed to the open air during summer nights when temperatures are high?

[Dilwyn]

[quote user="Logan"]Well from the further information you post I think perhaps you are right to worry about Leishmanosis. Has the dog been exposed to the open air during summer nights when temperatures are high?[/quote]

Unfortunately, the answer is yes for the early evening.

[Logan]

If Leishmanosis is diagnosed there are now some excellent modern drugs to treat it. Although the disease itself is uncurable with regular injections the symptoms can be controlled. However that said it is very expensive and has to be carried out over the lifetime of the dog. Make sure your vet understands the disease and the treatments available. In countries where the disease does not normally exists some ignorance can occur among professionals. I do hope it turns out to be something else. It's a big worry that this disease could be migrating north. Climate change is probably an obvious cause.

   

[cajal]

We lost one of our dogs to Leishmaniasis last April, as she was a Greek rescue dog we had given a home to 3 and a half years earlier, we assume that she must have contracted it there, although she tested negative before being brought from Greece.  We will never be sure, as we had also had subsequent holidays in the Lot region of France, and she had appeared well when we first rehomed her with us in the UK.  It can take as little as a few months to as long as c7 years to appear, depending on the resistance of the dog.  Only a blood test can confirm a diagnosis.  There is a lot of information on the internet re this horrible disease and it is present in France.  Protective collars are available from your vet called Scalibor collars.  As UK vets do not come across this very often, our vet did not think it was Leishmaniasis at first, and put it down to skin allergies, or food allergies or just old age.  It was only when I found detailed information on sypmtoms on the internet that I put 2 and 2 together and we brought it up again with out vet, sadly it was confirmed with a blood test. 

The very best of luck, I hope your dog gets the all clear.

Jane

[Dilwyn]

We had the results of the leishamanisias test this morning.

It was NEGATIVE.

The situation regarding leishamanisias in france is certainly worth

keeping an eye on as with global warming it is inevitably going to move

north. Researchers have found this has already happened in Italy. We are sorry to hear of your loss, Jane. We will now probably play safe and in future use the Scalibor collars you mentioned.

Anyway, thanks for the responses. We have now arranged for biopses to be taken.

Steve & Chris

[Logan]

Very pleased with your news. Hope your dog will soon be well.