Bayer
Animal Health at 4th World Congress on Leishmaniosis (WorldLeish4)
Canine Leishmaniosis, prevalence
increased to 71% in Europe
Experts issue urgent call for improved understanding
on disease prevention
Lucknow, India, February 6, 2009
– New data has revealed that the prevalence of canine
leishmaniosis is almost 71 per cent in some endemic countries
in southern Europe, in particular, France, Portugal, Spain
and Greece. This figure, much higher than previously thought,
is further compounded by an increase in the number of cases
of leishmaniosis observed in veterinary clinics in these countries:
22 per cent, 71 per cent, 43 per cent and 44.5 per cent respectively
between 2004 and 2008. These latest data presented by CVBD
World Forum member Prof. P. Bourdeau, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire
de Nantes, France this week at the LeishVet symposium at the
4th World Congress on Leishmaniosis (WorldLeish4) in Lucknow,
India, have lead veterinary experts to call for further understanding
on preventing this disease.
“Knowledge on leishmaniosis has continually
expanded since this disease was first described in dogs in
1908 by Nicolle and Comte in Tunisia. However, there are still
many questions - disparity of opinion regarding this disease
in veterinary medicine, insufficient scientific agreement
on the management of leishmaniosis and, therefore, the need
for further discussion on this subject”, said CVBD World
Forum member Dr L. Solano-Gallego, Royal Veterinary College,
London, UK. “More urgently, we need to agree on ways
to prevent the further spread of infection.”
Leishmanioses are a group of zoonotic diseases transmitted
to humans and animals by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies.
The disease occurs in more than 100 countries, from warm temperate
through subtropical and tropical climates. It is extremely
common in the Mediterranean area, South America and is also
found in Africa, Asia, and Middle America. Leishmaniosis is
a chronic disease with an incubation period of months to years
however, once the disease becomes patent, progression is usually
rapid and death may occur within a few weeks to months. In
Europe, dogs are the main reservoir for the protozoan parasite
Leishmania infantum, which causes the disease in dogs and
visceral leishmaniosis in humans.
Visceral leishmaniosis is the most serious form of the illness
that can affect humans and has a mortality rate of 100%, if
left untreated. It is prevalent in less developed countries,
where there are an estimated 500,000 new cases each year^
, although this figure could be much higher. Children or immunosuppressed
adults are among those that are particularly affected.
A number of factors have been linked to the rise in the incidence
of leishmaniosis in Southern Europe, such as an increase in
the number of pet dogs travelling within endemic regions.
Furthermore, the importation of dogs with leishmaniosis to
non-endemic areas has been attributed to infecting resident
sand fly populations; some of these dogs show no outward clinical
signs of the disease. The possibility of direct transmission
from dog to dog without the involvement of the vector, for
example by blood transfusion from disease-carrier to naïve
(non-infected) dogs, could also be attributed to new cases
of the disease in non-endemic areas of the world, such as
North America.
Presenting at the symposium, Dr Norbert Mencke, Bayer Animal
Health commented: “Protection can be achieved by avoidance
of exposure and control of the vector. Preventing sand flies
from taking a blood meal on dogs is of major importance for
the health of the dog and its owner in sand fly endemic areas.
Using a parasiticide with repellent properties is currently
the best option for vector control. Bayer Animal Health has
the only spot-on treatment with the label claim to repel sand
flies, ticks, mosquitoes and stable flies, preventing them
from latching on and biting the dog, thus protecting the dog’s
health and increasing its comfort.”
The efficacy of Advantix® (10% imidacloprid/50% permethrin)
in preventing canine leishmaniosis has been proven in the
biggest GCP-controlled field trial conducted so far. CVBD
World Forum member Prof. Dr. Domenico Otranto from the University
of Bari, Italy, the leading investigator, stated: “Through
a monthly or biweekly treatment with a repelling anti-parasite
agent, that prevents dogs from sand fly bites, we achieved
a leishmaniosis protection rate between 89% and 100%.”*
The LeishVet symposium, sponsored by Bayer Animal Health,
was held on February 6, 2009, from 09.00–13.00, Auditorium
1, Room A2, during the main programme of the 4th World Congress
on Leishmaniasis 2009 from 3–7 February, 2009 at the
Scientific Convention Centre, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj
Medical University, Lucknow, India.
About the 4th World Congress on Leishmaniosis
Visit http://www.worldleish4.org
for more information.
^Guerin, P.J. et al, Lancet Infect Dis 2002; 2: 494–501
*Otranto, D. et al.; Efficacy of a combination of 10% imidacloprid
and 50% permethrin for the prevention of leishmaniosis in
kennelled dogs in an endemic area; Veterinary Parasitology
144 (2007) 270–278.
About LeishVet
The LeishVet association is a group of veterinary scientists
from academic institutes in Europe and the Mediterranean basin
with a main clinical and scientific interest in canine leishmaniosis
(CanL). It was formed during the WorldLeish3 congress in Italy
in 2005 and officially registered as an association in May
2008. The group's main goal is to establish an internationally
recognized evidence-based set of guidelines for the management
of this disease and help veterinary practitioners understand,
diagnose, treat, and prevent CanL.
About Bayer HealthCare
Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the
world’s leading innovative companies in the health care
and medical products industry. The company combines the activities
of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, and Pharmaceuticals
divisions. The company’s pharmaceuticals business operates
under the name Bayer Schering Pharma AG. Bayer HealthCare’s
aim is to discover, develop, manufacture and market products
that will improve human and animal health worldwide.
With sales of EUR 956 million (2007), the Animal Health Division
is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of veterinary
drugs. The division produces and markets more than 100 different
veterinary drugs and care products for livestock and companion
animals.
Contact:
Mandira Viegas
Corporate Communications
Phone : +91 22 2571 1092
E-Mail : mandira.viegas.mv@bayer.com
Website : www.bayer.co.in
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