Chronic Small Bowel Diarrhea Due to Granulomatous Duodenitis by Leishmania in two Dogs

Canine gastrointestinal infection by Leishmania presenting large bowel involvement has been reported to date. This case series describes two dogs suffering from severe chronic small bowel diarrhea. Duodenal biopsies demonstrated granulomatous infiltration with intracytoplasmatic corpuscles of Leishmania amastigotes. Furthermore one of the dogs was diagnosed with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) based on the presence of multifocal dilation of intestinal crypts and hypoalbuminemia. To the author’s knowledge, PLE associated to canine granulomatous duodenitis by Leishmania had not been previously reported. Dogs were successfully treated with meglumine antimoniate for at least one month and allopurinol as a long-term single agent. These findings suggest that leishmaniosis should be included in the differential diagnosis for dogs presenting chronic small bowel diarrhea or PLE, especially in endemic areas. Close monitoring of the dogs affected is highly recommended.