Update on therapy and prevention of canine leishmaniasis.

Canine leishmaniasis is an emerging infection with increasing importance because the main vector also exists in Germany and autochthonous infections have been described. In this article we present the latest information available regarding therapy and prevention of this disease. Allopurinol-resistant Leishmania infantum strains were isolated from dogs which experienced recurrent disease while being treated with allopurinol, highlighting the need for alternative treatment options. Differing results of long-term studies on the efficacy of miltefosine in combination with allopurinol in comparison to meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol can affect the selection of the treatment protocol. A high number of repellents with distinctive characteristics is available for the prevention of infection in dogs. In Europe, two vaccines are licensed for dogs which aim at reducing the risk of an active infection and the severity clinical disease.