La leishmaniose canine à Leishmania infantum: essais d'immunothérapie

As most methods currently available to treat and control canine leishmaniasis have a limited efficacy, researchers are testing immunotherapeutic methods with great interest. Excreted– secreted antigens (ES Ag) of promastigotes of Leishmania infantum cultured in a defined medium were selected. Three Leishmania– infected dogs received two intradermal injections of 25 mg of ES Ag, at 3 weeks interval. This treatment was the first ever in one of the dogs, whereas the other two had previously received a standard treatment with Glucantime ® and Zyloric ® . Marked clinical improvement was noted as of Day 15 after the first injection, as well as an intense leishmanicide activity in collected monocytes, and a significant decrease of antibody titres. No clinical relapse was recorded over two years later.