Efficacy of meglumine antimoniate treatment on Boxer Leyshmania infantum skin lesions -Case Report

Cristina Carresi^1*Clara Francesca Ferrucci²Cyndi Mangano²Anna Rita Coppoletta^3*Antonio Cardamone^3*Vincenzo Musolino⁴Micaela Gliozzi³Vincenzo Mollace³Domenico Britti⁵

• ¹Veterinary Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Interregional Research Center for Food Safety and Health IRC-FSH, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy, Catanzaro, Italy
• ²Veterinary Clinic “Tripodi”, Reggio Calabria, Italy
• ³Pharmacology Laboratory, Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health IRC-FSH, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy., Catanzaro, Italy
• ⁴Pharmaceutical Biology Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Interregional Research Center for Food Safety and Health IRC-FSH, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy, Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy
• ⁵Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy., Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy

This clinical report describes the beneficial effects of local subcutaneous injections of meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime®) on Leishmania cutaneous lesions in a dog from Calabria, region of Southern Italy. Leishmaniasis is an endemic zoonosis disease in the European Union, particularly in Mediterranean countries, parts of north and east Africa, India, China and central and south America, caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania spp. which infect several reservoirs, including humans and domestic animals. In southern Europe, the main etiological agent is Leishmania infantum transmitted by sandflies of the subfamily Phlebotominae, which represents the most frequent cause of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), and, in these regions, dogs are considered the chief domestic reservoir of the parasite. A 7-year-old male not-sterilized Boxer, named Ettore, underwent pre-vaccination blood tests and Leishmania IFI (Indirect Immuno-Fluorescence) test which confirmed the presence of antibodies against protozoan leishmania infantum (antibody titer, 1:1280) proving the diagnosis of CL. The dog underwent a therapeutic protocol based on miltefosine (Milteforan™ -Virbac®) (2mg/Kg b.w. per os) for 28 days and allopurinol 300mg (10mg/Kg b.w. po) for 6 months. However, at the end of the treatment period, the appearance of a suspicious skin lesion on the left tarsus was reported, which appeared inflamed and infected. The subsequent antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy based on amoxicillin+clavulanic acid (12,5mg/kg b.w. po for 15 days), metronidazole (75000UI+ 12,5mg po for 15 days) and prednisone (0,5mg/kg b.w. po for 10 days) failed to be effective, thus, the lesion worsened and spread also on the dorsal femoral surface of both hind limbs appearing blackish, swollen, painful, alopecic and oozing bloody and purulent material. Mild renal microlithiasis and splenopathy were reported by abdominal ultrasound and were associated with a possible leishmania pattern. Finally, skin lesions were experimentally treated with subcutaneous injections of Glucantime® (200mg/lesion -0,5ml /lesion) once a month for five months, followed by complete healing. Interestingly, the experimental localized treatment with Glucantime® proved to be crucial in counteracting Leishmania skin lesions. The results obtained suggest that through an appropriate diagnosis it is possible to define targeted and effective therapeutic protocols useful in the management of canine leishmaniasis.