DESTRUCTIVE POLYARTHRITIS IN A DOG WITH LEISHMANIASIS

The clinical history and diagnosis of a dog with leishmaniasis involvi ng both elbow joints and the skin is described. The dog, a female, fiv e-year-old crossbreed, had been imported from Majorca (Balearic Island s, Spain) four years before the diagnosis was made. For two years, the dog had had bilateral forelimb lameness. Physical examination reveale d swollen, painful and crepitating elbow joints. Furthermore, an ulcer ating dermatitis was found on the concave surface of the left pinna an d necrotising margins on both ears. Radiographs of the elbow joints re vealed complete destruction of the joint surfaces with dislocation of the radius and the ulna, compatible with severe osteolytic arthritis. The diagnosis of leishmaniasis was confirmed by a direct agglutination test.