Leishmania infantum in an ownership dog (Dogo Argentino) with lymphadenopathy and extensive cutaneous lesions: Hematological, biochemical, microscopical and molecular findings.

BACKGROUND: Leishmania spp. are the cause of a common zoonotic illness. Dogs are the main reservoirs of the parasites, which play a considerable role in infecting humans and other hosts.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 2-year-old male dog with evident acute skin lesions and ulcerative nodules on the face was referred to a small animal hospital in Mazandaran province, Iran. In order to detect Leishmania parasites, the popliteal lymph node (LN) was sampled for the microscopical examination and the PCR reaction. Also, the hematological and biochemical parameters were measured.

FINDINGS/TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Light microscopy on the LN sample stained with Giemsa revealed Leishman bodies inside and outside of macrophages. Laboratory findings showed mild leukocytosis, lymphocytosis, neutrophilia, low hematocrit, hyperglobulinemia, hyperproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, declined albumin/globulin ratio, and hyperglycemia. The PCR and sequencing results confirmed that Leishmania infantum was the causative agent.

CONCLUSION: Cutaneous leishmaniasis due to L. tropica and L. major is prevalent in humans and dogs in Iran. In this report, a generalized skin disease was evident caused by L. infantum, a viscerotropic parasite species. In addition to cutaneous signs, leukocytosis and anemia concordance with the change in biochemical parameters supported a visceral invasion. Therefore, this report is significant as the cutaneous form of the disease may also imply a complicated visceral illness. In Mazandaran province, the visceral type has been rarely reported. As a result, this form of leishmaniasis in dogs raises concerns about the possibility of zoonotic transmission and may threaten public health.