SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CANINE LEISHMANIASIS

The changes in the titres of anti-leishmania antibodies in 25 dogs wit h leishmaniasis were studied by using a Dot-ELISA technique while they were being treated with N-methylglucamine and allopurinol. When the d iagnosis of leishmaniasis was established, 21 of the dogs had positive titres (1:800 or higher), and after treatment, 15 of them still had h igh titres, in most cases the same as at the point of the diagnosis. I n four dogs the titres decreased, and were less than the cut-off value in two cases nine months after treatment. Only four dogs had titres l ess than the cut-off value when they were diagnosed, but one month lat er the titres in all four dogs had reached the cut-off value. There wa s no correlation between the serological titres and the severity of th e clinical signs. It is concluded that the Dot-ELISA is a sensitive me thod for the diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis but is not satisfactory for monitoring the clinical development of the disease.