Objectives: To provide up-to-date information on the clinical and histopathological features of 36 cases of canine leishmaniasis with cutaneous lesions encountered in a leishmaniasis-endemic area. Materials and Methods: From October 2007 through March 2010, 1299 dogs were examined specifically for skin disorders at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Small Animal Clinic. Results: Dermatological disorders accounted for 17% (221 dogs with 316 dermatological diagnoses) of all the dogs examined. Cutaneous manifestations of canine leishmaniasis encountered in 36 of 316 (11.39%) dermatological diagnoses. Ulcerative dermatitis and papulonodular dermatitis were the most common skin lesions; the ulcers were mainly localized on the nasal planum and around the lips. Skin papules and nodules without ulceration were also observed at various sites including the skin of the abdomen, the bridge of the nose, the inner surface of pinnae, the inner aspect of anterior and posterior extremities, the prepuce, the eyelids and the lower lips. On histopathologic examination, the skin biopsy specimens showed a nodular to diffuse dermatitis, chronic granulomatous inflammation, granulomatous perifolliculitis, sebaceous adenitis, superficial and deep perivascular dermatitis, and interstitial dermatitis. Conclusions: It is of great importance that various cutaneous manifestations of leishmaniasis to be considered in the differential diagnosis of canine skin disease especially in leishmanisis-endemic areas.

Keywords