Treatment of canine cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in dogs with furazolidone and β-cyclodextrin: case report

Euthanasia of animals is not accepted as a control for cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and drugs used in humans for the treatment of leishmaniasis are not allowed for animals in Brazil. Miltefosine was authorized for dogs infected by Leishmania infantum with variable results for L. braziliensis. Thus, nine dogs infected with Leishmania (V.) braziliensis were treated by a combination of furazolidone and beta-cyclodextrin. The nine dogs were mongrels, weighing between 4-17 kg and 3-10 years old. These dogs had ulcerous lesions in different regions such as scrotal tissue, auricular pavilion and nostrils. Serological, molecular and protozoal culture techniques were used for laboratory diagnosis. The treatment used furazolidone + beta-cyclodextrin complex (1: 2) at a concentration of 60 mg/mL given orally at a dose of 15 mg/kg every 12 hours. The re-epithelialization of lesions occurred between 35 and 41 days of treatment. During fourteen months the animals were monitored and there was no reactivation of lesions or growth of the protozoan in a culture medium of the biopsies. This study demonstrated that treatment with FZD and CD is effective in reducing the cutaneous lesions caused by L. braziliensis in dogs.