Assessment of Leishmania infantum infection in equine populations in a canine visceral leishmaniosis transmission area.
Authors: Escobar Taiane Acunha, Dowich Gabriela, Dos Santos Thália Pacheco, Zuravski Luísa, Duarte Claudia Acosta, Lübeck Irina, Manfredini Vanusa
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary: *Leishmania infantum* in Equine Populations Dogs serve as the principal domestic reservoir for *Leishmania infantum*, yet the pathological significance of infection in horses residing within endemic transmission zones remains poorly characterised. Researchers in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, sampled 124 animals (98 horses and 26 dogs) from a leishmaniosis-affected region, performing serological and parasitological testing alongside comprehensive clinical examination, haematological analysis, biochemical profiling, and oxidative stress markers. The findings revealed that equine populations do acquire *L. infantum* infection in canine visceral leishmaniosis transmission areas, with infected horses demonstrating measurable clinical, haematological, biochemical and oxidative stress abnormalities distinct from uninfected controls. For equine practitioners in endemic regions, these results suggest that leishmaniosis warrants consideration in diagnostic protocols for horses with compatible clinical signs—particularly dermatological presentations—and that routine screening may be prudent in high-risk areas to identify subclinical infections and associated metabolic disturbances. The data also reinforce the importance of integrated vector management and reservoir control strategies that account for multi-species transmission dynamics, not solely focusing on canine populations.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Horses in areas with canine visceral leishmaniosis should be considered at risk for L. infantum infection and screened accordingly
- •Clinicians should be aware that equines can be infected with this zoonotic pathogen and may show clinical and dermatologic signs
- •Oxidative stress markers may be useful in assessing disease status in affected horses
Key Findings
- •Leishmania infantum infections were detected in equine populations within a canine visceral leishmaniosis transmission area
- •Study evaluated clinical, haematological, biochemical and oxidative stress parameters in infected animals
- •Sample included 98 horses and 26 dogs from endemic area in southern Brazil