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Review
. 2024 Apr 30;17(1):198.
doi: 10.1186/s13071-024-06282-w.

Canine leishmaniasis in the Americas: etiology, distribution, and clinical and zoonotic importance

Filipe Dantas-Torres  1
Affiliations
Review

Canine leishmaniasis in the Americas: etiology, distribution, and clinical and zoonotic importance

Filipe Dantas-Torres. Parasit Vectors. .

Abstract

Canine leishmaniasis is a widespread disease on the American continent, with cases reported from Uruguay to the USA and Canada. While numerous Leishmania spp. have been reported in dogs in this region, Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis are the most common etiological agents of canine leishmaniasis from a continental perspective. Nonetheless, other species may predominate locally in some countries. The participation of dogs in the transmission cycle of various Leishmania spp. has long been speculated, but evidence indicates that their role as reservoirs of species other than L. infantum is negligible. Various native wildlife (e.g., small rodents, marsupials, sloths, and monkeys) are, in fact, the primary hosts of Leishmania spp. in the Americas. In this review, an updated list of Leishmania spp. infecting dogs in the Americas is presented, along with their distribution and clinical and zoonotic importance.

Keywords: Leishmania; Lutzomyia; Americas; Dogs; Phlebotomine sand flies; Zoonosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Filipe Dantas-Torres is the Editor-in-Chief of Parasites and Vectors. This review was independently edited by Adnan Hodžić (Subject Editor).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Country-by-country distribution of Leishmania spp. in dogs in the Americas. This map was constructed with QGIS (https://qgis.org/en/site) and Natural Earth (https://www.naturalearthdata.com)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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