title: Use of domperidone in the treatment of canine visceral leishmaniasis: a clinical trial.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of domperidone, a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum. Ninety-eight dogs were treated with single-agent domperidone at 1mg/kg twice a day orally for 1 month. Clinical, serological, biochemical and immunological examinations were conducted for the following 12 months. Domperidone was effective in controlling and reducing clinical signs and antibody titre. Significant decreases in reciprocal serum antibodies were seen in 74.3% of the dogs with mild clinical signs and 40% of the dogs became seronegative. In dogs with several clinical signs and high antibody titres, clinical improvement occurred in 86% of animals and the reciprocal serum antibody titres decreased in 38% of these dogs. A significant increase was noted in the immune cellular status, as measured by the leishmanin skin test and a lymphocyte proliferation assay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty of Zaragoza, c/ Miguel Servet 177, CP 50013 Zaragoza, Spain. pablogomezochoa@gmail.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gómez-Ochoa
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gascón
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Couto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004294:Domperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D004294:Domperidone