title: Detection of Leishmania spp. and associated inflammation in ocular-associated smooth and striated muscles in dogs with patent leishmaniosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Canine leishmaniosis is a disease characterized by the wide distribution of the parasite throughout the tissues of the host. The purpose of this study was to describe the presence of Leishmania spp. and associated inflammation in ocular-associated muscles of dogs with patent leishmaniosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Smooth muscles (iris dilator muscle, iris sphincter muscle, ciliary muscle, Müller muscle, smooth muscle of the periorbita and smooth muscle of the nictitating membrane) and striated muscles (orbicularis oculi muscle, obliquus dorsalis muscle and dorsal rectus muscle) were evaluated. Routine staining with hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry to detect Leishmania spp. were performed on tissue sections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Granulomatous inflammation was seen surrounding muscular fibers and was composed mainly of macrophages with scattered lymphocytes and plasma cells. This infiltrate could be seen in 52/473 (10.99%) samples of smooth muscle and 36/142 (25.35%) samples of striated muscle. Parasites were detected in 43/473 (9.09%) samples of smooth muscle and in 28/142 (19.71%) samples of striated muscle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report assessing the presence of Leishmania spp. and associated infiltrate in intraocular, extraocular and adnexal smooth and striated muscles. The inflammation present in those muscles could contribute to clinical signs already described, such as blepharitis, uveitis, and orbital cellulitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, 53706 WI, USA.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naranjo
authors.forename: Dolors
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fondevila
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leiva
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Roura
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peña
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005123:Eye; D007249:Inflammation / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D007891:Leishmania / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D054792:Muscle, Striated / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology