New Means of Canine Leishmaniasis Transmission in North America: The Possibility of Transmission to Humans Still Unknown

Abstract

At present it is not possible to determine in advance the outcome of Leishmania infantum infection. Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), caused by Le. infantum, is a natural disease process which offers a insight into the interaction of the host and resultant disease outcome. Canine VL results in the same altered pathophysiology and immunodysregulation seen in humans. VL in US dogs is likely to be transmitted primarily via nontraditional, nonvector means. VL mediated by Le. infantum is endemic in U.S. Foxhound dogs, with vertical transmission likely to be the novel primary means of transmission. This population of dogs offers an opportunity to identify host factors of natural disease. Prevention of human clinical visceral leishmaniasis can occur only by better understanding the disease ecology of the primary reservoir host: the dog.

Neurologic Manifestations ofLeishmania spp.Infection

“…All dogs were current on their rabies vaccination and were not positive for rabies upon post-mortem analysis. We more recently have noted that loss of balance, particularly in the front end, and disorientation (Petersen, unpublished findings) are not uncommon in foxhound dogs which we observe as part of our ongoing studies [18,41,42]. Beyond these more typical locations of parasites and neurologic malfunction, there is a report of infection of tongue leading to cranial nerve deficits [13].…”

Chronic infection by Leishmania amazonensis mediated through MAPK ERK mechanisms

“…This places Leishmaniasis within the coasts of the most industrialized nations in the world and is no longer a solely a problem in third world countries. While we currently do not know of any reported VL cases transmitted from a canine to a human in the US, because of the proximity of infected canines, with immunocompromised and other individuals, the possibility is always there [3]. …”

Neglected Tropical Diseases - Latin America and the Caribbean

“…This perspective is based on the concept that, in light of the current knowledge, and while waiting for the results of BENEFIT (Marin-Neto et al 2008, 2009) (a large randomized clinical trial designed to assess the parasitological and clinical efficacy of benznidazole in adults, 18-75 years old with chronic CHD and no advanced lesions, which is being performed in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Bolivia, and El Salvador), the risk of not adopting a promising therapy (with tolerable side effects) is less acceptable than the risk of not adopting what can be proved to be useless in the future (Andrade et al 2011). This perspective is based on the concept that, in light of the current knowledge, and while waiting for the results of BENEFIT (Marin-Neto et al 2008, 2009) (a large randomized clinical trial designed to assess the parasitological and clinical efficacy of benznidazole in adults, 18-75 years old with chronic CHD and no advanced lesions, which is being performed in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Bolivia, and El Salvador), the risk of not adopting a promising therapy (with tolerable side effects) is less acceptable than the risk of not adopting what can be proved to be useless in the future (Andrade et al 2011).…”

“…Patients can show a septal perforation after days or months postinfection, nose skin can be thickened and hyperemic, with deformation of the nasal pyramid. Although Brazilian government efforts are directed toward early diagnosis and treatment, the fatality rate reported for VL was estimated to be 7 %, and in Belo Horizonte, Mina Gerais, it reached 12.6 % during the years -2009(de Araujo et al 2012). Also known as "espundia," mucosal leishmaniasis occurs in 3 % of CL cases in Bahia, Brazil.…”