Canine Leishmaniasis in Morocco: A Descriptive Prospective Clinical Study

Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a zoonotic vector-borne disease that is endemic in the Mediterranean Basin including Morocco. Dogs play a major epidemiological role in this zoonosis as reservoir hosts. This study investigated the clinical manifestations of CanL in dogs naturally infected with Leishma...

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Main Authors: Houda Idrissi, Maryam Hakkour, Luc Duchateau, Renato Zanatta, Malika Kachani, Rahma Azrib, Sylvie Daminet, Faouzi Kichou, Sabrine El Asatey, Noureddine Tazi, Hamid Sahibi, Sarah El Hamiani Khatat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Veterinary Medicine International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6304127
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author Houda Idrissi
Maryam Hakkour
Luc Duchateau
Renato Zanatta
Malika Kachani
Rahma Azrib
Sylvie Daminet
Faouzi Kichou
Sabrine El Asatey
Noureddine Tazi
Hamid Sahibi
Sarah El Hamiani Khatat
author_facet Houda Idrissi
Maryam Hakkour
Luc Duchateau
Renato Zanatta
Malika Kachani
Rahma Azrib
Sylvie Daminet
Faouzi Kichou
Sabrine El Asatey
Noureddine Tazi
Hamid Sahibi
Sarah El Hamiani Khatat
author_sort Houda Idrissi
collection DOAJ
description Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a zoonotic vector-borne disease that is endemic in the Mediterranean Basin including Morocco. Dogs play a major epidemiological role in this zoonosis as reservoir hosts. This study investigated the clinical manifestations of CanL in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum. A total of 96 dogs presented to the Small Animal Clinic of the Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute (IAV Hassan II) of Rabat, Morocco, and were tested by RT-PCR and/or serology. Among them, 32 (33.3%) were positive to Leishmania infantum infection. The majority of the positive dogs (93.7%) came from urban areas. Most of them were male (62.5%) and purebreds (65.6%), were aged between 3 and 7 years (71.8%), and had outside activities (guarding, hunting, livestock guarding, and service activities) (71.8%) and all of them were living exclusively outdoor or had free access to the outdoor environment. Lymphadenomegaly (81.2%), dermatological disorders (65.6%) (mostly exfoliative dermatitis), weight loss (59.3%), exercise intolerance (56.2%), anorexia (28.1%), hyporexia (15.6%), and ocular lesions (28.1%) were the most frequent clinical signs and complaints recorded. Anemia and hyperproteinemia due to hyperglobulinemia were observed in 68.7% and 72.7% of the cases, respectively. These results suggest that CanL leads to various nonspecific clinical signs as described previously, making the diagnosis challenging. Since CanL is endemic in Morocco, it should be recommended to systematically test dogs displaying clinical signs compatible with this disease and to regularly screen asymptomatic at-risk dogs. It is also crucial to educate dog owners about the zoonotic aspect of the disease and to encourage intersectorial collaboration following the “One Health” concept, in order to contribute to a more effective control/prevention of human and canine leishmaniasis.
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spelling doaj-art-136ddda86da947698236bb2d615e131d2025-08-20T02:01:42ZengWileyVeterinary Medicine International2090-81132042-00482021-01-01202110.1155/2021/63041276304127Canine Leishmaniasis in Morocco: A Descriptive Prospective Clinical StudyHouda Idrissi0Maryam Hakkour1Luc Duchateau2Renato Zanatta3Malika Kachani4Rahma Azrib5Sylvie Daminet6Faouzi Kichou7Sabrine El Asatey8Noureddine Tazi9Hamid Sahibi10Sarah El Hamiani Khatat11Department of Pathology and Veterinary Public Health, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat-Instituts, Madinat Al Irfane, PO Box 6202, Rabat, MoroccoNational Reference Laboratory of Leishmaniasis, 27 Avenue Ibn Batouta, PO Box 769, Agdal, Rabat, MoroccoBiometrics Research Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumDepartment Patologia Animale, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (Torino), ItalyCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E. Second Street, Pomona, CA 91766-1854, USADepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat-Instituts, Madinat Al Irfane, PO Box 6202, Rabat, MoroccoSmall Animal Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumDepartment of Pathology and Veterinary Public Health, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat-Instituts, Madinat Al Irfane, PO Box 6202, Rabat, MoroccoDepartment of Pathology and Veterinary Public Health, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat-Instituts, Madinat Al Irfane, PO Box 6202, Rabat, MoroccoVeterinary Clinic of the 1st Kennel of the Royal Armed Forces, 13000 Benslimane, MoroccoDepartment of Pathology and Veterinary Public Health, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat-Instituts, Madinat Al Irfane, PO Box 6202, Rabat, MoroccoDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat-Instituts, Madinat Al Irfane, PO Box 6202, Rabat, MoroccoCanine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a zoonotic vector-borne disease that is endemic in the Mediterranean Basin including Morocco. Dogs play a major epidemiological role in this zoonosis as reservoir hosts. This study investigated the clinical manifestations of CanL in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum. A total of 96 dogs presented to the Small Animal Clinic of the Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute (IAV Hassan II) of Rabat, Morocco, and were tested by RT-PCR and/or serology. Among them, 32 (33.3%) were positive to Leishmania infantum infection. The majority of the positive dogs (93.7%) came from urban areas. Most of them were male (62.5%) and purebreds (65.6%), were aged between 3 and 7 years (71.8%), and had outside activities (guarding, hunting, livestock guarding, and service activities) (71.8%) and all of them were living exclusively outdoor or had free access to the outdoor environment. Lymphadenomegaly (81.2%), dermatological disorders (65.6%) (mostly exfoliative dermatitis), weight loss (59.3%), exercise intolerance (56.2%), anorexia (28.1%), hyporexia (15.6%), and ocular lesions (28.1%) were the most frequent clinical signs and complaints recorded. Anemia and hyperproteinemia due to hyperglobulinemia were observed in 68.7% and 72.7% of the cases, respectively. These results suggest that CanL leads to various nonspecific clinical signs as described previously, making the diagnosis challenging. Since CanL is endemic in Morocco, it should be recommended to systematically test dogs displaying clinical signs compatible with this disease and to regularly screen asymptomatic at-risk dogs. It is also crucial to educate dog owners about the zoonotic aspect of the disease and to encourage intersectorial collaboration following the “One Health” concept, in order to contribute to a more effective control/prevention of human and canine leishmaniasis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6304127
spellingShingle Houda Idrissi
Maryam Hakkour
Luc Duchateau
Renato Zanatta
Malika Kachani
Rahma Azrib
Sylvie Daminet
Faouzi Kichou
Sabrine El Asatey
Noureddine Tazi
Hamid Sahibi
Sarah El Hamiani Khatat
Canine Leishmaniasis in Morocco: A Descriptive Prospective Clinical Study
Veterinary Medicine International
title Canine Leishmaniasis in Morocco: A Descriptive Prospective Clinical Study
title_full Canine Leishmaniasis in Morocco: A Descriptive Prospective Clinical Study
title_fullStr Canine Leishmaniasis in Morocco: A Descriptive Prospective Clinical Study
title_full_unstemmed Canine Leishmaniasis in Morocco: A Descriptive Prospective Clinical Study
title_short Canine Leishmaniasis in Morocco: A Descriptive Prospective Clinical Study
title_sort canine leishmaniasis in morocco a descriptive prospective clinical study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6304127
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