title: An Atypical Case of Leishmaniasis Associated with Chronic Duodenitis in a Dog.
abstract: We describe an atypical case of duodenal leishmaniasis in a boxer dog presenting with chronic diarrhea and poor general condition. Antidiarrheic therapy was previously administered without success and inflammatory bowel disease localized to the small intestine was suspected, given the chronic clinical signs and by ruling out other known causes of gastrointestinal inflammation. Endoscopic biopsy of duodenum showed a moderate increase in lamina propria lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages. Basophilic bodies were seen in the cytoplasm of numerous macrophages, suggestive of Leishmania spp, confirmed by immunostaining, and a diagnosis of granulomatous duodenitis associated to Leishmania infection was made. After 7 mo of therapy, a significant clinical improvement and weight gain were observed, and endoscopic histology showed no evidence of Leishmania. A progressive decline of anti-leishmanial antibody titer was also observed during follow-up. This report emphasizes the importance of atypical symptoms and the unusual location of visceral leishmaniasis, suggesting the need to consider leishmaniasis in the differential diagnosis of canine chronic enteritis, especially in endemic areas.
authors.affiliation: From the Animal Medicine and Surgery Department (I.A., L.J.B., J.D.G.-M.); and Veterinary Pathology Department (M.A.G., J.A.N., A.B.), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.affiliation: From the Animal Medicine and Surgery Department (I.A., L.J.B., J.D.G.-M.); and Veterinary Pathology Department (M.A.G., J.A.N., A.B.), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis Jesus
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.affiliation: From the Animal Medicine and Surgery Department (I.A., L.J.B., J.D.G.-M.); and Veterinary Pathology Department (M.A.G., J.A.N., A.B.), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Diego
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Garcia-Martinez
authors.affiliation: From the Animal Medicine and Surgery Department (I.A., L.J.B., J.D.G.-M.); and Veterinary Pathology Department (M.A.G., J.A.N., A.B.), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.affiliation: From the Animal Medicine and Surgery Department (I.A., L.J.B., J.D.G.-M.); and Veterinary Pathology Department (M.A.G., J.A.N., A.B.), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: From the Animal Medicine and Surgery Department (I.A., L.J.B., J.D.G.-M.); and Veterinary Pathology Department (M.A.G., J.A.N., A.B.), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernabe
mesh_terms: D000493:Allopurinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004382:Duodenitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D000493:Allopurinol; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate