Advances in Canine Leishmaniosis

Dear Colleagues,

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL), as caused by infection with Leishmania infantum (syn. L. chagasi), is a vector-borne protozoal disease. CanL is an important zoonotic disease associated with the long history of companionship between dogs and humans. CanL affects approximately 1.3 million dogs in Mediterranean and peri-Mediterranean areas each year; more than 20 million infected dogs have been estimated all around Europe. Beyond the Mediterranean basin, additional CanL endemic areas include an expanding region of the Americas and Asia. Dogs are the predominant reservoir host for human infection; a high seroprevalence of CanL can be geographically associated with a portion of the 20,000 to 30,000 annual human deaths attributed to this disease. Leishmania parasites predominantly transmit to mammalian hosts via phlebotomine sand flies. CanL is characterized by a different range of clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities, with a long period of subclinical infection.

The prevention and management of CanL has progressed over the last several years due to a better understanding of the canine immune response during infection. This progress has provided better assessment of treatment efficacy and growing knowledge regarding the multi-host ecology of Leishmania infection beyond dogs.

The aim of this Special Issue is to contribute to broadening the existing literature on the topic and to make available advanced data that can help to paint a better picture of leishmaniosis in dogs in order to obtain a rational and homogeneous approach to dogs with clinical leishmaniosis. The scope is broad and open to methods for controlling the transmission of leishmaniosis, as well as papers increasing our knowledge of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of the disease. Resistance to treatments (preventive and curative) can also be addressed.

For this purpose, we cordially invite you to submit research articles, articles, and short communications related to the various aspects of leishmaniosis on the basis of your expertise.

Prof. Annamaria Passantino
Prof. Dr. Gaetano Oliva
Prof. Dr. Laura Rinaldi
Dr. Michela Pugliese
Guest Editors

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