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by Videx on 10 May 2012 - 11:05
New vaccine developed against leishmaniosis
THE FIRST EU-developed vaccine to provide protection against leishmaniosis – a disease which affects dogs and humans and which is currently spreading northwards through Europe – has been produced by Virbac.
Leishmaniosis is an incurable and often fatal disease spread through the bites of infected sandflies, and presents a particular threat to UK dogs travelling abroad.
The disease is present in many popular holiday areas, including the Mediterranean Basin. It can cause dogs great suffering and can be fatal. It is endemic in countries in southern Europe bordering the Mediterranean, where 2.5 million dogs are already believed to be infected with the parasite.
Infected animals
The disease is spreading because more people are travelling with their dogs, or importing infected animals from affected areas.
Symptoms include skin lesions, fur loss, dermatitis, swollen glands, weight loss, nose bleeds and kidney failure.
While some treatments are available to manage the symptoms, none can cure the disease, said a spokesman for Virbac. Infected dogs can die, and symptomless dogs can still transmit the infection to other dogs.
Leishmaniosis also affects people and is known as leishmaniasis in its human form; an outbreak has recently been reported in Madrid, Spain.
"While it hasn’t so far been viewed as a major threat in the UK, the fact that more dogs are travelling abroad, combined with the spread of the sandfly into more northern regions of Europe, makes it a risk we can no longer ignore,” the spokesman said. "Developing a vaccine has proved challenging because of the complexity of the parasite, meaning that the only prevention methods available to owners have been to avoid sandflies at dawn and dusk and to use insecticide sprays, spot-ons and collars on their dogs.”.
The new vaccine has been developed as a result of 20 years’ research and collaboration between scientists at the Institute de Recherche pour le Développement, a French public research institute, animal health company Virbac and its subsidiary company Bio Véto Test. To be protected, dogs must be given three injections at three-week intervals. The vaccine can be given from six months of age and an annual re-vaccination is then required to maintain immunity.
"With pet-travel regulations relaxing and more owners taking their dogs abroad, the availability of a vaccine against leishmaniosis is good news,” the spokesman said. "Vaccinating dogs travelling to endemic regions is a simple and effective way for owners to protect their animals and give them peace of mind on holiday. It will also help to slow the disease’s spread into non-endemic regions.”
Readers who want more information should speak to their vet, Virbac said.
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