Urinary enzyme activities of alanine aminopeptidase, gammaglutamyl tra
nspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and
beta-glucuronidase were determined in 15 dogs with leishmaniasis and
in a group of eight normal dogs. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitro
gen concentrations were also measured and renal histology was examined
. All the affected dogs had renal lesions. However, no significant dif
ferences in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations were fou
nd between the control group and the affected group. The urinary enzym
e activities of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (P<0.01), N-acetyl-beta-
D-glucosaminidase (P<0.01) and beta-glucuronidase (P<0.05) were signif
icantly higher in the affected dogs. Urinary enzymes therefore seem to
be a more sensitive and reliable test for assessing early renal damag
e in canine leishmaniasis than serum creatinine or blood urea nitrogen
concentrations.