VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN A DOG - CLINICAL, HEMATOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (1) , 1-12
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis [Leishmania donovani] was diagnosed in a dog that had been living with his owners in Spain for 2 yr. Clinical diagnosis was somewhat delayed as the disease is largely unknown to Canada and was manifested by a nonresponsive anemia which was not easily explained on peripheral blood evaluation alone, and concomitant interstitial nephritis. On post mortem examination splenomegaly was the main gross pathological finding. Light microscopic examination of bone marrow aspirates and subsequent EM examintion of splenic and hepatic tissues revealed numerous Leishman-Donovan bodies in cells of the reticuloendothelial system. Parasitized reticuloendothelial cells were seen singly or forming granulomata. These latter did not contain giant cells and were confined mainly to the liver and spleen, being sparse and single in the first but extremely numerous and coalescing in the latter. Accumulation of intrafollicular hyaline material was seen in a small number of splenic follicles. Leishman-Donovan bodies on EM examination had a trilaminar periplast, a large round nucleus with heavy blocks of marginated chromatin and 2 nucleoli, a short flagellum and a kinetoplast. Lymph nodes and bone marrow had numerous parasitized macrophages but no granulomata. Leishman-Donovan bodies were not detected in the lungs and kidneys both of which exhibited a chronic interstitial reaction. The comparative hematological profile as well as the importance of bone marrow and EM examinations of the spleen and liver in diagnosis are discussed. The potential public health harzard of leishmaniasis to North America and particularly to Canada is considered.

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