Leishmania amazonensis in dog with clinical diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Parana State, Brazil - a case report

Leishmaniasis are antropozoonoses involving various species of Leishmania and hosts, with variable clinical presentations and considered of great importance to public health. This article describes a case of canine leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania amazonensis, from the town of Cambe, Parana state, Brazil. This state is considered endemic for American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) in humans, but this is the first report in a dog in the region, caused by L. amazonensis. The taxonomic characterization of Leishmania was performed by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis technique (MLEE). Clinical signs were similar to those observed in visceral leishmaniasis as polyarthritis and progressive weight loss. It is concluded that the related polyarthritis when related to leishmaniasis, cannot be considered a clinical sign associated only with L. chagasi in view of the L. amazonensis also has this as one of its presentations. The LTA becomes a differential diagnosis of polyarthritis in dogs.