Methods of Control of the Leishmania infantum Dog Reservoir: State of the Art

Leishmania infantum is a protozoan parasite causing severe vector-borne visceral diseases both in humans and dogs. The latter are the most important natural reservoir and therefore should be the main target of control measures. The real efficacy of seropositive dogs culling as a direct control metho...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Michele Podaliri Vulpiani, Luigi Iannetti, Daniela Paganico, Filomena Iannino, Nicola Ferri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Veterinary Medicine International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/215964
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832564682114727936
author Michele Podaliri Vulpiani
Luigi Iannetti
Daniela Paganico
Filomena Iannino
Nicola Ferri
author_facet Michele Podaliri Vulpiani
Luigi Iannetti
Daniela Paganico
Filomena Iannino
Nicola Ferri
author_sort Michele Podaliri Vulpiani
collection DOAJ
description Leishmania infantum is a protozoan parasite causing severe vector-borne visceral diseases both in humans and dogs. The latter are the most important natural reservoir and therefore should be the main target of control measures. The real efficacy of seropositive dogs culling as a direct control method is still debated, and the new sensitivity of large part of population considers ethically unacceptable this kind of approach. Treatment of infectious dogs with one of the available therapeutic protocols is recommendable as it allows to reduce parasite burdens and therefore the possibility of transmission of Leishmania infantum to vectors. Vaccination has been proven to be a very effective control tool, but the absence of a commonly recognized diagnostic method able to distinguish vaccinate from seropositive individuals is still an important limit. Concerning indirect control methods, a number of studies have demonstrated the efficacy of topical insecticides treatment (collars, spot-on, and sprays) in reducing incidence and prevalence of L. infantum. Also, the reduction of the odds of seroconversion in humans in endemic areas has been reported after the application of indirect control measures on dogs. The contemporary use of direct and indirect methods is even more effective in reducing seroprevalence in dogs.
format Article
id doaj-art-4c05bac888b44a939d0171178894623c
institution Kabale University
issn 2042-0048
language English
publishDate 2011-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Veterinary Medicine International
spelling doaj-art-4c05bac888b44a939d0171178894623c2025-02-03T01:10:23ZengWileyVeterinary Medicine International2042-00482011-01-01201110.4061/2011/215964215964Methods of Control of the Leishmania infantum Dog Reservoir: State of the ArtMichele Podaliri Vulpiani0Luigi Iannetti1Daniela Paganico2Filomena Iannino3Nicola Ferri4Settore Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Istituto “G. Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, ItalySettore Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Istituto “G. Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, ItalySettore Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Istituto “G. Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, ItalySettore Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Istituto “G. Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, ItalySettore Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Istituto “G. Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, ItalyLeishmania infantum is a protozoan parasite causing severe vector-borne visceral diseases both in humans and dogs. The latter are the most important natural reservoir and therefore should be the main target of control measures. The real efficacy of seropositive dogs culling as a direct control method is still debated, and the new sensitivity of large part of population considers ethically unacceptable this kind of approach. Treatment of infectious dogs with one of the available therapeutic protocols is recommendable as it allows to reduce parasite burdens and therefore the possibility of transmission of Leishmania infantum to vectors. Vaccination has been proven to be a very effective control tool, but the absence of a commonly recognized diagnostic method able to distinguish vaccinate from seropositive individuals is still an important limit. Concerning indirect control methods, a number of studies have demonstrated the efficacy of topical insecticides treatment (collars, spot-on, and sprays) in reducing incidence and prevalence of L. infantum. Also, the reduction of the odds of seroconversion in humans in endemic areas has been reported after the application of indirect control measures on dogs. The contemporary use of direct and indirect methods is even more effective in reducing seroprevalence in dogs.http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/215964
spellingShingle Michele Podaliri Vulpiani
Luigi Iannetti
Daniela Paganico
Filomena Iannino
Nicola Ferri
Methods of Control of the Leishmania infantum Dog Reservoir: State of the Art
Veterinary Medicine International
title Methods of Control of the Leishmania infantum Dog Reservoir: State of the Art
title_full Methods of Control of the Leishmania infantum Dog Reservoir: State of the Art
title_fullStr Methods of Control of the Leishmania infantum Dog Reservoir: State of the Art
title_full_unstemmed Methods of Control of the Leishmania infantum Dog Reservoir: State of the Art
title_short Methods of Control of the Leishmania infantum Dog Reservoir: State of the Art
title_sort methods of control of the leishmania infantum dog reservoir state of the art
url http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/215964
work_keys_str_mv AT michelepodalirivulpiani methodsofcontroloftheleishmaniainfantumdogreservoirstateoftheart
AT luigiiannetti methodsofcontroloftheleishmaniainfantumdogreservoirstateoftheart
AT danielapaganico methodsofcontroloftheleishmaniainfantumdogreservoirstateoftheart
AT filomenaiannino methodsofcontroloftheleishmaniainfantumdogreservoirstateoftheart
AT nicolaferri methodsofcontroloftheleishmaniainfantumdogreservoirstateoftheart