Cutaneous leishmaniasis in two horses.
Abstract: This report contains the clinical, histologic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic findings in two cases of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis. Nodular, sometimes crusty or ulcerated lesions were confined to the pinna and adjacent neck in both animals. The dermal inflammatory infiltrate was lymphohistiocytic in horse No. 1 and pyogranulomatous with formation of tuberculoid granulomas in horse No. 2. Numerous Leishmania organisms were found within macrophages in both animals. There was moderate to intense and specific reaction by immunoperoxidase using a polyclonal antiserum against Leishmania in both horses. Leishmania amastigotes were also revealed by electron microscopy. This is the first report of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis recognized in North America and Puerto Rico. Leishmaniasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous nodular diseases in the horse.
Publication Date: 1996-11-01 PubMed ID: 8952039DOI: 10.1177/030098589603300619Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Case Reports
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research discusses two confirmed cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in horses, identifying that the disease can affect equine species and should be acknowledged in diagnosing cutaneous nodular diseases in them. These are the first recognized occurrences in North America and Puerto Rico.
About Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Horses
- The study presents findings from two cases of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis, a condition previously not reported in North America or Puerto Rico.
- The focus is on the clinical, histologic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic findings from these cases.
- Cutaneous leishmaniasis in the horses manifested as nodular, sometimes crusty or ulcerated lesions confined to the pinna (ear) and adjacent neck regions.
Inflammatory Conditions in Horses
- In horse No. 1, the dermal inflammatory infiltrate was lymphohistiocytic, referring to the presence of lymphocytes and histiocytes (types of white blood cells involved in immune response) in the tissue.
- In horse No. 2, the inflammation was pyogranulomatous with the formation of tuberculoid granulomas, indicating a highly specific cellular immune response against the pathogen.
Presence of Leishmania Organisms
- Both horses demonstrated numerous Leishmania organisms within macrophages, immune cells that rid the body of worn-out cells, bacteria, and other microorganisms.
- The researchers used a polyclonal antiserum against Leishmania that resulted in moderate to intense immunoperoxidase reactions in both horses, confirming the presence of Leishmania.
- Leishmania amastigotes, the stage of the parasite that lives within the host’s cells, were revealed through electron microscopy in these studies.
Significance of the Research
- This study is significant as it reports the first recognized cases of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis in North America and Puerto Rico.
- The findings suggest that leishmaniasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous nodular diseases in horses. This implies a need to expand diagnostic parameters to ensure early recognition and treatment of the disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Ramos-Vara JA, Ortiz-Santiago B, Segalès J, Dunstan RW.
(1996).
Cutaneous leishmaniasis in two horses.
Vet Pathol, 33(6), 731-734.
https://doi.org/10.1177/030098589603300619 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan / analysis
- Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry
- Leishmania infantum / immunology
- Leishmania infantum / isolation & purification
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / diagnosis
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / pathology
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / veterinary
- Macrophages / chemistry
- Macrophages / parasitology
- Macrophages / pathology
- Male
- Microscopy, Electron / methods
- Microscopy, Electron / veterinary
- North America / epidemiology
- Puerto Rico / epidemiology
- Skin / parasitology
- Skin / pathology
- Skin / ultrastructure
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Gazzonis AL, Morganti G, Porcellato I, Roccabianca P, Avallone G, Gavaudan S, Canonico C, Rigamonti G, Brachelente C, Veronesi F. Detection of Leishmania spp. in Chronic Dermatitis: Retrospective Study in Exposed Horse Populations. Pathogens 2022 May 31;11(6).
- Ortega-García MV, Salguero FJ, García N, Domínguez M, Moreno I, Berrocal A. Equine infection with Leishmania spp. in Costa Rica: Study of five cases. Vet Med Sci 2021 Nov;7(6):2234-2239.
- Gazzonis AL, Bertero F, Moretta I, Morganti G, Mortarino M, Villa L, Zanzani SA, Morandi B, Rinnovati R, Vitale F, Manfredi MT, Cardoso L, Veronesi F. Detecting antibodies to Leishmania infantum in horses from areas with different epizooticity levels of canine leishmaniosis and a retrospective revision of Italian data. Parasit Vectors 2020 Oct 22;13(1):530.
- Maleki M, Yousefi M, Bazzaz SMM, Tabassi SAS, Rakhshandeh H, Hamedi SS, Haghighi G. An overview of skin lesions adapted to Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Persian Medicine. Electron Physician 2017 Nov;9(11):5854-5862.
- Tasew G, Gadisa E, Abera A, Zewude A, Chanyalew M, Aseffa A, Abebe M, Ritter U, van Zandbergen G, Laskay T, Tafess K. In vitro permissiveness of bovine neutrophils and monocyte derived macrophages to Leishmania donovani of Ethiopian isolate. Parasit Vectors 2016 Apr 18;9:218.
- Truppel JH, Otomura F, Teodoro U, Massafera R, da Costa-Ribeiro MC, Catarino CM, Dalagrana L, Costa Ferreira ME, Thomaz-Soccol V. Can equids be a reservoir of Leishmania braziliensis in endemic areas?. PLoS One 2014;9(4):e93731.
- Nasiri V, Karimi G, Dalimi A, Paykari H, Ghaffarifar F. Effects of sheep and mouse urine on the growth pattern of Leishmania major promastigotes. Biomed Res Int 2013;2013:748592.
- Reuss SM, Dunbar MD, Calderwood Mays MB, Owen JL, Mallicote MF, Archer LL, Wellehan JF Jr. Autochthonous Leishmania siamensis in horse, Florida, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2012 Sep;18(9):1545-7.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
