Activity of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum

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Abstract
Thirteen dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum showing viscero-cutaneous signs of disease were treated with different dosages of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome). The animals were followed clinically and parasitologically over a period of eight months. Dogs which received three to five administrations of AmBisome 3–3.3 mg/kg showed rapid clinical improvement, with regression of lymphadenomegaly and splenomegaly, and cure of skin lesions. The clinical response was similar to that obtained with 14–21 doses of conventional antileishmanial drugs. However, follow-up lymph node aspirates remained positive for Leishmania in all dogs except one, which was treated with the total dose of AmBisome 15 mg/kg. The failure in parasitological cure may be due to inadequate drug targeting to parasitized cells, or to T-cell immune depression characteristic of patent cases of canine leishmaniasis, or to both.

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