Leishmaniasis disseminated by Leishmania braziliensis in a mare (Equus cabalus) immunotherapy and chemotherapy assays.

The research outlines the treatment of a pregnant mare affected by Leishmania braziliensis, a parasitic infection leading to cutaneous disseminated lesions. The mare was treated through a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy, with the study detailing the results of this intervention.

About Leishmaniasis and Leishmania Braziliensis

• Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by parasites of the Leishmania type.
• There are several different forms of leishmaniasis, one of the most common being cutaneous, which causes skin sores.
• In this case, the species of Leishmania involved was Leishmania braziliensis, notable for causing a severe form of leishmaniasis called mucocutaneous leishmaniasis which affects the skin and mucous membranes.

The Case and Treatment Approach

• The pregnant mare, based in a rural city in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania braziliensis, which demonstrated through disseminated lesions on the skin.
• Given the severity of the condition, the mare was treated through a dual approach of immunotherapy and chemotherapy before delivering her foal.
• Immunotherapy is a treatment method that uses certain components of a person (or animal’s) immune system to fight diseases, including Leishmania infections, whereas chemotherapy employs drugs to kill or arrest the growth of the parasite.

Monitoring the Treatment

• Across the treatment, the researchers performed histopathology and serology tests to track the progress of the condition and the effectiveness of the treatment—which include the study of diseased cells and tissues, and blood tests to study the mare’s immune response, respectively.
• The parasite was successfully isolated from one of the lesions and was biochemically characterized, confirming its species as Leishmania Braziliensis.

Outcome

• This research abstract doesn’t provide the outcome of the treatment. However, the process outlined in the study is indicative of exploring effective treatment against Leishmania braziliensis in animals, particularly in horses.