Five canine cases of visceral leishmaniasis were diagnosed. All five dogs presented with icterus, intermitent fever, vomition, anorexia and emaciation. The most prominent gross lesions were hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, interstitial pneumonia and splenomegaly. In tissue sections, free and intracellular forms of Leishmania spp were depicted in macrophages and endothelial cells of all organs scanned. Epidemiological survey to detect either the agent or the sandfly was negative.
visceral leishmaniasis; kala-azar; dogs; Leishmania spp
