IMPORTED CASES OF LEISHMANIASIS IN DOGS, A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY CONCERNING AUSTRIA (1985-1994)

From 1985 - 1994 twentyone dogs suffering from leishmaniosis have been diagnosed in Austria. Because of an increasing number of 16 cases in the last four years canine leishmaniosis is of considerable importance to the veterinary practitioner in Austria. Ten dogs were imported fro m endemic areas [Greece (3), former Yugoslavia (1), Spain (4) and Port ugal (2)], whereas 11 dogs [France (1), Greece (1), Italy (3) and Spai n (6)] had become infected during travelling with their owners in ende mic countries. Most of the dogs had a long case history before the dia gnosis was made. The most remarkable and typical symptoms were hair lo ss with changing apical location and furfuraceous dermatitis- depilati on. The most prominent feature was hyperkeratosis, presented as excess ive scaling of epidermis and chapping of the muzzle and the footpads, Scaling may be most prominent on the nose, around the eyes and on the pinna. Abnormally long or brittle nails, a rather specific finding, is present in a minority of the patients. Other symptoms such as tonsill itis, status febrilis, hepatosplenomegaly, renal insufficiency and mil d to moderate increased levels of the serumenzymes amylase and lipase were found. As an ocular manifestation, changes from corneal opacity t o bilateral uveitis can be observed. Laboratory tests exhibited hyperp roteinaemia, moderate leucopenia, anaemia and blood eosinophilia. In a ll 21 cases we found antibodies against L. donovani by IFAT in a dilut ion of 1:20 - 1:2 500. A titre of 1:20 appeared to be specific. One mo nth after therapy antibodies were decreasing to 1:20 - 1:40, 5 months after therapy they increased to levels of 1:1 280 - 1:10 000. Therapeu tically Glucantime(R) (meglumine antimonate) was used with good result s, although it was impossible to eliminate the parasites completely.