Combined treatment with topical fluconazole microemulsion for Canine leishmaniasis: Case report

  • Carlos Bregni Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires
  • Claudia Salerno 1Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires
  • José Octavio Estévez Private Practice Veterinarian. Veterinaria del Oeste. Posadas, Misiones
  • María Cecilia Nevot Private Practice Veterinarian. Veterinaria del Oeste. Posadas, Misiones
  • Adriana M Carlucci Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires
  • Carlos Bregni Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires
Keywords: dogs, fluconazole, leishmaniasis, malassezia, microemulsion, zoonoses

Abstract

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is a zoonosis mainly caused by Leishmania infantum, (New World synonym L. chagasi) and occasionally by L. Braziliensis. CanL, also known as Canine Visceral Leishmaniosis, is a multisystemic disease with several clinical signs including poor body condition, generalized muscular atrophy, lymphadenomegaly and excessive skin ulcers and scaling. Fluconazole (FLZ) is an antifungal agent that inhibits a key enzyme for the production of ergosterol, the main sterol in membranes of fungi and parasites. We report a case of CanL in one dog with persistent cutaneous manifestations after early amelioration of systemic signs after usual treatment with allopurinol. A mongrel six-year-old female dog admitted in a veterinary clinic in the city of Posadas, Misiones, Argentina, was diagnosed with CanL after cytological examination of skin, lymph nodes and bone marrow, and treated with allopurinol as initial systemic treatment. Later a microemulsion with FLZ as active pharmaceutical ingredient was indicated for topical aplication on skin  lesions. The dog resolved lesions after combined treatment. This study provides baseline data about the efficacy of FLZ microemulsion on skin lesions of CanL. Although further work is needed, this semisolid dosage form could be useful for the local treatment of CanL in the New World.

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Published
2015-10-17
Section
Case Reports