Monitoring the reverse to normal of clinico-pathological findings and the disease free interval time using four different treatment protocols for canine leishmaniosis in an endemic area

Twenty-four dogs naturally infected by Leishmania spp. were treated with four different protocols using meglumine antimoniate (aNm) and allopurinol in combination or in monotherapy. Aiming to compare the efficacy of the different treatments the reverse to normal of clinico-pathological findings and the disease free interval time (DFIT) were evaluated. Treated dogs were monitored for 1 year and, in absence of relapses, the DFIT was postponed to the last available follow-up. Seven dogs treated with aNm alone showed relapses during the year of observation. In the group of dogs treated with the combination of aNm (50 mg/kg/SC 12 hourly up to clinico-pathological recovery) and allopurinol (15 mg/kg/PO 12 hourly administered for 6 months) no relapses were registered in the year of monitoring and the DFIT reached up to 65 months. Our results showed that this combination represents the best choice to treat canine leishmaniosis compared to other protocols.