Case report of leishmaniasis in a dog from Colombia
Background: Leishmaniasis is an infectious zoonotic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, transmitted by blood-sucking sandflies. In Colombia, this disease is endemic, most frequently reported in rural areas, and dogs are the main domestic reservoirs. This report describes the first confirmed case of canine leishmaniasis in an urban area of ??Medellín, Colombia.  Case Description: A 6-year-old intact male Belgian Shepherd, residing in the urban area of ??Medellín, presented with lameness, lethargy, and inappetence. The initial clinical picture was acute, but one month later, the dog's condition worsened with the appearance of subcutaneous nodules, weight loss, a rough coat, sublingual ulcers, and joint inflammation. Laboratory tests revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, and hyperglobulinemia. Abdominal ultrasound showed splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and signs of chronic kidney disease. A full qPCR panel for hemoparasites was positive for Leishmania spp. with a high parasite load, and Leishmania infantum was identified by sequencing. The diagnosis was confirmed by cytology of subcutaneous nodules, which revealed amastigotes, and anti-Leishmania antibodies were detected by serology. Treatment with allopurinol was administered for 8 months, supplemented with domperidone for 4 weeks and marbofloxacin for 15 days. Clinical signs improved, and follow-up qPCR tests at 7 and 9 months were negative.