Cutaneous leishmaniosis in a horse in southern Germany caused by Leishmania infantum.
This report describes a case of cutaneous leishmaniosis in a horse in southern Germany. Diagnosis is based on histopathology, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. The protozoan was identified as Leishmania infantum via PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The horse did not show specific Leishmania antibodies. The lesions healed completely within 6 months without any specific treatment. Since neither the infected horse nor its dam had ever left their rural area, autochthonous infection in Germany cannot be excluded. Factors possibly influencing the epidemiological situation are discussed.
Koehler
Kernt
K
Institut für Veterinär-Pathologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 96, D-35392 Giessen, Germany. kernt.koehler@vetmed.uni-giessen.de
Stechele
Maximilian
M
Hetzel
Udo
U
Domingo
Mariano
M
Schönian
Gabriele
G
Zahner
Horst
H
Burkhardt
Eberhard
E
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005858:Germany; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D006736:Horses / Q000469:parasitology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan