Today, we have a guest post from One Health epidemiologist extraordinaire (and great collaborator) Dr. Katie Clow and extraordinaire-in-training Sydney DeWinter.

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If you have been following the ongoing saga regarding canine importation regulations put forth by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dog movement is likely top of mind and you may be curious as to why regulations are needed in the first place. One of the biggest reasons is to prevent (or at least reduce the chances of) new infectious diseases entering a country. While we won’t spend time discussing all the diseases that sick (and seemingly healthy) dogs can bring on the plane with them, there is one disease on which we are regularly consulted and requires some additional considerations, and that’s canine leishmaniosis.

Let’s start by understanding the basics of this disease.

Canine leishmaniosis is a devastating disease caused by infection with blood-borne parasites of the genus Leishmania. These parasites are mainly spread through tiny biting sand flies, but can also be spread through breeding and from an infected mum to her pups. Across the world, canine leishmaniosis cases are documented in over 90 countries, so dogs imported from these countries could have been exposed to and be carrying the parasite when they arrive.

Next, we need to consider what these parasites actually do to a dog.

Leishmaniosis is a very complex disease with some dogs never becoming sick while others experience a range of clinical signs, many non-specific, from weight loss to skin lesions to fatal kidney disease. Dogs can be exposed and become sick months to years later, long after they have settled into their new homes in Canada. With the variable and non-specific presentation of disease, coupled with potentially long delays between exposure and disease, canine leishmaniosis can be a very tricky disease to diagnose.

Right now, we know that dogs are routinely being imported from countries where they could have been exposed to Leishmania spp., but we don’t know much else about this disease in Canada. For example, we don’t know how many imported dogs are infected, what medical and lifestyle risk factors exist, and how owners and veterinarians pursue treatment and access the applicable medications in Canada. This information is needed, as identified by many veterinarians who call for advice on case management and prognosis.

If you’d like to contribute to filling some of these knowledge gaps, we have two open studies, which have been generously supported by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation. Here are the details:

1. Cross-sectional study to estimate the prevalence of infection with Leishmania spp. in imported dogs and identify lifestyle and medical risk factors associated with infection.

This study is recruiting dogs who have been recently (within last three years) imported from a country endemic for canine leishmaniosis. A blood sample will be collected from these dogs, and owners will be asked to fill out a questionnaire on the known lifestyle and medical history of the dog. Owners and veterinarians will be informed of the results from the blood sample testing. Costs for blood collection and testing are covered.

2. Case series study to describe the clinical outcomes of imported cases of canine leishmaniosis.

This study is recruiting dogs who test positive for Leishmania spp. infection and are displaying clinical signs. Blood and urine samples will be taken from dogs twice over a two-year period, and owners will be asked to complete a questionnaire at the time of diagnosis/enrollment, and then twice more (12- and 24- months post diagnosis). Testing costs are covered as well as veterinary time.

If you believe your dog may be eligible for either of our studies, or are a veterinary professional who knowns of patients who may be eligible, please email Sydney at sdewinte@uoguelph.ca.