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First documented cases of equine leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis in France.
Abstract: In this study, we describe the first documented cases of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis in France and provide clinical and parasitological data relevant for the recognition of this emerging infection in horses. Three horses presenting localized cutaneous lesions were diagnosed with L. martiniquensis infection in different regions of France without spatial or temporal clustering. Lesions were clinically nonspecific and initially compatible with common equine dermatological conditions, including sarcoid-like tumors. Histopathological examination revealed granulomatous dermatitis with intrahistiocytic organisms morphologically consistent with Leishmania amastigotes in all cases. Molecular analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue confirmed the presence of Leishmania DNA, and sequencing of the ITS1 locus identified L. martiniquensis. Direct agglutination test serology was negative in two horses and strongly positive in one. In one case, parasite isolation was achieved in culture. The disease remained localized in all animals, with spontaneous regression in one case, resolution following surgical excision in another, and complete healing after intralesional treatment with meglumine antimoniate in the third. Unassigned: Premiers cas documentés de leishmaniose équine due à Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis en France. Unassigned: Cette étude décrit les premiers cas documentés de leishmaniose cutanée équine due à Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis en France et fournit des données cliniques et parasitologiques utiles pour identifier cette infection émergente chez les chevaux. Trois chevaux présentant des lésions cutanées localisées ont reçu un diagnostic d'infection à L. martiniquensis dans différentes régions de France, sans regroupement spatial ou temporel. Les lésions étaient cliniquement aspécifiques et initialement compatibles avec des affections dermatologiques équines courantes, notamment des tumeurs de type sarcoïde. L'examen histopathologique a révélé, dans tous les cas, une dermatite granulomateuse avec des organismes intrahistiocytaires morphologiquement compatibles avec des amastigotes de Leishmania. L'analyse moléculaire de tissus fixés au formol et inclus en paraffine a confirmé la présence d'ADN de Leishmania, et le séquençage du locus ITS1 a permis d'identifier L. martiniquensis. La sérologie par test d'agglutination directe s'est révélée négative chez deux chevaux et fortement positive chez un troisième. Dans un cas, l'isolement du parasite a été obtenu en culture. La maladie est restée localisée chez tous les animaux, avec une régression spontanée dans un cas, une résolution après exérèse chirurgicale dans un autre, et une guérison complète suite à un traitement intralésionnel par l'antimoniate de méglumine.
© C. Alleaume et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2026.
Publication Date: 2026-09-28 PubMed ID: 42803458PubMed Central: PMC13617993DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2026054Google 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.
- Journal Article
- Case Reports
Summary
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Overview
- This research reports the first known cases of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by the parasite Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis in France.
- It includes clinical observations, diagnostic methods, and treatment outcomes from three horses diagnosed with this emerging infection.
Background and Significance
- Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, which can affect various mammals, including horses.
- Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis is a specific species within this genus and was previously not documented to cause disease in horses in France.
- Equine cutaneous leishmaniasis presents as skin lesions that can be confused with other common equine skin conditions.
- Recognizing this emerging infection in horses is important for accurate diagnosis and management.
Case Descriptions
- Three horses from different regions of France exhibited localized cutaneous lesions; these cases were not clustered by time or location, indicating sporadic infection.
- The lesions were clinically nonspecific, meaning they did not have unique features immediately suggestive of leishmaniasis.
- Conditions that the lesions initially resembled include common equine dermatological conditions like sarcoid-like tumors.
Diagnostic Approach
- Histopathological examination of tissue samples from the lesions showed granulomatous dermatitis characterized by clusters of immune cells and the presence of organisms inside histiocytes (a type of immune cell).
- The intracellular organisms matched the morphology of Leishmania amastigotes (the intracellular form of the parasite).
- Molecular diagnostics involved extracting DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, followed by amplification and sequencing of the ITS1 locus, a genetic marker used to identify Leishmania species.
- Sequencing confirmed that the infecting parasite in all cases was Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis.
- Serological testing via direct agglutination test was negative in two horses and strongly positive in one, indicating variability in antibody response.
- In one case, live parasite isolation through culture was successful, which supports the diagnosis and allows further study of the pathogen.
Treatment and Outcomes
- All cases exhibited localized disease without systemic spread, which is favorable for prognosis.
- One horse showed spontaneous regression of the lesions without medical intervention, suggesting some cases may resolve naturally.
- Another horse’s lesions were surgically excised, leading to resolution of the disease.
- The third horse was treated with intralesional injections of meglumine antimoniate (a medication used to treat leishmaniasis), resulting in complete healing of the lesions.
Implications and Conclusions
- This study documents the emergence of L. martiniquensis as a cause of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis in France for the first time.
- The nonspecific clinical signs and similarity to other skin diseases highlight the importance of histopathology and molecular tools for accurate diagnosis.
- Variable serological responses indicate that antibody testing alone may not be reliable for diagnosis in all cases.
- The favorable outcomes with different management strategies suggest that localized equine leishmaniasis can be effectively controlled with surgical or medical treatment, or may even resolve spontaneously.
- Veterinarians should consider leishmaniasis in the differential diagnosis of equine skin lesions in France and perhaps other regions.
Cite This Article
APA
Alleaume C, Laloy E, Dupuis-Tricaud MC, Kuk N, Kariya E, Keck N, Depaquit J, Lachaud L, Ravel C.
(2026).
First documented cases of equine leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis in France.
Parasite, 33, 53.
https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2026054 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Vetodiag Laboratory, 14170 Saint-Pierre en Auge, France.
- Vetodiag Laboratory, 14170 Saint-Pierre en Auge, France.
- Vetodiag Laboratory, 14170 Saint-Pierre en Auge, France.
- University of Montpellier & UMR5290 IRD MiVEGEC, 34090 Montpellier, France - French Reference Centre for Leishmaniasis, 34090 Montpellier, France.
- University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UR ESCAPE-USC ANSES PETARD, 51100 Reims, France & Laboratoire de biologie territoriale, CHU de Reims, 51100 Reims, France.
- Departmental Veterinary Laboratory of Hérault, 34000 Montpellier, France.
- University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UR ESCAPE-USC ANSES PETARD, 51100 Reims, France & Laboratoire de biologie territoriale, CHU de Reims, 51100 Reims, France.
- University of Montpellier & UMR5290 IRD MiVEGEC, 34090 Montpellier, France - French Reference Centre for Leishmaniasis, 34090 Montpellier, France.
- University of Montpellier & UMR5290 IRD MiVEGEC, 34090 Montpellier, France - French Reference Centre for Leishmaniasis, 34090 Montpellier, France.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use
- DNA, Protozoan / isolation & purification
- France / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Leishmania / isolation & purification
- Leishmania / genetics
- Leishmania / classification
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / veterinary
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / parasitology
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / epidemiology
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / diagnosis
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / drug therapy
- Meglumine / therapeutic use
- Meglumine Antimoniate
- Organometallic Compounds / therapeutic use
- Skin / pathology
- Skin / parasitology
Grant Funding
- Université de Montpellier
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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