The impact of leishmaniasis on military working dogs with Mediterranean basin exposure.
BACKGROUND
Leishmaniasis is an infectious protozoan disease of people and domestic animals that occurs throughout temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions of the world. In the Mediterranean Basin, Canine Leishmaniasis (CanL) is endemic and might pose a risk to military working dogs (MWDs) stationed in the area. Concerns over translocating exposed MWDs into CanL nonendemic areas create the need to ascertain the impact of CanL in exposed MWDs.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the magnitude of CanL in exposed MWDs.


METHODS
Serum/tissue examination of exposed MWDs using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence assay (IFAT) tests targeted to L. infantum; abstraction of MWD medical records for CanL-related signs.


METHODS
Military bases within the Mediterranean basin.


METHODS
Sixty-four MWDs located from a records search.


METHODS
PCR results; IFAT titers; frequency and number of CanL-related clinical signs abstracted from medical records; case definitions.


RESULTS
All PCR and IFAT tests were negative. No MWDs were classified as CanL cases or CanL probable cases. Although 16 MWDs met the CanL suspect case definition, no correlation was found between the length of time MWDs were exposed and the number of CanL-related clinical signs abstracted from medical records.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the potential for MWDs to translocate CanL is very low.
Killian
Jerrod W
JW
Japan District Veterinary Command, Camp Zama, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000662:veterinary; D007891:Leishmania / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D019083:Mediterranean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014731:Veterinary Service, Military
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan