Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (Viannia) in a dog from Panama City,Panama: case report
Keywords:
mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, leishmania (Viannia), canine, zoonosis, histopathologyAbstract
Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in Panama, most commonly observed in rural areas. It is a zoonosis caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania, transmitted through the bite of a vector (Lutzomyia in the New World and Phlebotomus in the Old World). A 5-year-old dog was presented to the veterinarian with an ulcerated and crusted lesion in the mucocutaneous region of both nostrils, with several months of evolution. The patient lived in a mountainous area of Cerro Azul, east of Panama City, where there is abundant vegetation. The complete blood count revealed leukocytosis. Cytology showed pyogranulomatous inflammation and structures compatible with Leishmania amastigotes. After two weeks of treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics and daily cleansing of the affected area, a biopsy was performed due to suspicion of leishmaniasis. The sample was submitted for histopathology and molecular testing (PCR), which was positive for Leishmania (Viannia) and showed histopathologic findings of pyogranulomatous dermatitis. The patient’s clinical follow-up is not available. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in a dog in Panama attributed to the subgenus Leishmania (Viannia).
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