Evaluation of the effectiveness of three therapeutic protocols used in the treatment of visceral canine leishmaniosis

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a tropical and subtropical disease caused by an intracellular protozoan transmitted by a bite from a vector, mainly from the genera Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia, and affects humans and other mammals, especially dogs. The main objective in controlling canine visceral leishmaniasis is to reduce the number of human cases by reducing its prevalence in dogs. In Brazil, glucantime antimoniate and Amphotericin B, utilized for treating the disease in humans, are prohibited so that only miltefosine, which is not employed for treatment of humans, is permitted for use in dogs. This work aimed to evaluate the efficacy of three different therapeutic protocols employed in the treatment of dogs naturally infected with visceral leishmaniasis. Fifty-six (56) dogs, of both sexes, were treated and evaluated utilizing three treatment protocols. The following protocols were utilized: association of several drugs; miltefosine associated with allopurinol; and immunotherapy with anti- Leishmania vaccine associated with Allopurinol. Immunotherapy was the most efficient protocol, followed by an association of drugs and miltefosine. The use of these protocols diminishes the constant relapses of the disease. Associations of therapeutic protocols produced clinical improvement of patients even with presentation of subsequent negative serology. However, the study did not include aspects related to hemoparasitoses, thus a further study is required.