Everything You Need to Know About Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a disease we often see here at My Pet Nutritionist in dogs either rescued or imported from abroad, or those who have travelled overseas from the UK. This disease is transmitted by female sand flies, which thrive in hot, humid climates, and are typically most active from dusk until dawn.

Sand flies are prone to carrying a microscopic, but dangerous parasite from the Leishmania family, which transmits to the pet when infected flies bite. It’s important to know that not all sand flies carry this parasite; but many do! The sand fly is most commonly found in the Mediterranean, Southern parts of Europe, and South America, but populations are increasing in other warmer climate areas due to increasing global temperatures.

How dangerous are these parasites, we hear you ask! Well, these nasty parasites directly invade the body’s own immune cells, which in turn affects the kidneys, liver, spleen, skin and even bone marrow! Worse still, it can lay dormant for months, even years, before symptoms begin! Symptoms can be mild to life threatening, and there is no cure; the severity of an individual’s case much depends on how early on, and how well it is managed!

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Findings Here

Read on to find out about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and natural support available for those with leishmaniasis.

Symptoms

Describing the symptoms of one patient will often be different to the next, due to the vast range of symptoms associated with the disease. The symptoms an individual shows will also vary in terms of time frame as some individuals will display symptoms soon after parasitic infection, but others may develop symptoms over months or even years! Symptoms may include:

• Weight loss: this includes muscle wastage. Dogs may appear to become less toned, more skeletal in appearance even though their appetite remains as normal.
• Lethargy: you may find the dog is more reluctant to exercise.
• Nail issues: nails may go brittle, cracked or overgrown.
• Nosebleeds
• Eye issues: the area around the eyes may become inflamed, and you may also see some discharge from within the eye.
• Skin issues: skin ulcers, flaky skin and hair loss (mostly around the eyes) are common in those with leishmaniasis, and sores that won’t heal are often reported too.
• Increased thirst (polydipsia): due to strain on kidneys.
• Increased urination (polyuria): often as a result of the increased thirst and strain on the kidneys.
• Sickness and diarrhoea
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Kidney failure: in severe or advanced cases, kidney failure and subsequent death is possible.

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Findings Here

Diagnosis

There are various tests carried out as part of a diagnosis of leishmaniasis. The tests your veterinarian may suggest and carry out are:

• Blood test: a blood panel will be able to detect antibodies against leishmania. If they are present, it means your pet has been exposed to this disease.
• Urinalysis: to detect any damage to, or strain on the kidneys.
• PCR Testing: identifies the DNA of parasites in the body.
• Biopsies: as the lymph nodes are affected, biopsies of lymph nodes, lesions or ulcers on the skin and even bone marrow in severe cases will be taken and analysed by a cytologist.

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Findings Here

Conventional Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no curing treatment for Leishmaniasis, however the aim of conventional treatment is to reduce symptoms, control the parasite load, and slow down progression of the disease.

Anti-parasitic medication aimed specifically at combatting Leishmania parasites will often be prescribed for long periods of time, which will aim to kill any adult parasites, and suppress replication of parasites in the body. Long term management plans will be put in place because relapses can occur in the future.

Another way your veterinary team can help you manage your pet’s leishmaniasis is through frequent blood and kidney testing. Keeping an eye on blood values and kidney values can show how well the disease is controlled, and enable the vet to increase or decrease any medications as they see fit.

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Natural Support for Leishmaniasis

As always, our approach is often supported by veterinary care, so we tend to look at this as a complementary approach as opposed to alternative.

Here are some of our dietary considerations, mostly aimed at protecting the kidneys:

• Feed fresh: a high quality fresh diet will be most easily digestible, and high in moisture to aid kidney health
• Consider one of our ‘problem specific’ kidney recipes! These recipes are aimed at supporting the kidneys.
• Avoid processed foods as they are renowned for causing inflammation, which is something we want to avoid.

When it comes to supplements, there’s a few that may help those with leishmaniasis, such as:

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids: raw egg, oily fish, fish oils, algae oil and other sources of omega 3 fatty acids are excellent at reducing inflammation in the body. Our carnivorous pet’s meat filled diet is naturally high in inflammatory omega 6, so it is important to bring this inflammation back down by balancing with added omega 3 fatty acids.
• Antioxidants: turmeric (best in the liposomal curcumin form), blueberries, ginger and leafy greens have powerful antioxidant properties, which target free radicals and reduce cell damage caused by these, and reduces oxidation.
• Anti-inflammatory herbs: the likes of Milk Thistle, Turmeric and Ginkgo Biloba are all great options for reducing inflammation in the body.
• Mild diuretic herbs: these herbs aid the flushing of the kidneys, and can be given in tea format or herbal supplements. Examples include nettle, dandelion, cleavers and burdock root.

Always check with your vet, that any herbs you wish to give do not have any contraindications with medications your pet is taking.

Lastly, there are some lifestyle changes that can be made, including:

• Reducing stress: stress can reduce immune function which can worsen leishmaniasis
• Ensure you are using multiple layers of protection against sand fly if your dog is in any environments sand flies are likely to be present in. using a natural flea collar as well as repellent sprays are some great layers of protection, but keeping dogs inside from dusk to dawn, and using repellents in the home is the best method of prevention.

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If you live in a country prone to sand fly, or have travelled to one, and are worried about your pet’s symptoms, seek veterinary care as soon as possible. Once your pet has a diagnosis, we can help you with your long-term diet and management plan – just book a consultation with one of our team!



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