[Moderator's note: Posted anonymously, by request, since it's a press
release and poster need not be associated with the source.  Though I
don't see anything mentioning ferrets in the release, so there must be
some other source of info too.. hmmm... BIG]
 
A parasitic disease, which the CDC currently is studying in dogs, has been
confirmed in ferrets in the State of Maryland.
 
The following email message was received from the CDC about this, as it
relates to dogs; specifically foxhounds.  As a precautionary measure,
please be sure to treat your pets with flea and tick sprays.
 
    Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis-  United States 2000
 
The Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center For Infectious
Diseases, CDC, has been collaborating since February 2000 with the Dutchess
County (NY) Department of Health (DC-DOH ), the Walter Reed Army Institute
of Research (WRAIR), the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets
(NYS-DAM), the New York State Department of Health (NYS-DOH) and the North
Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine (NCSU-CVM) to
investigate an outbreak of visceral leishmaniasis among foxhounds at a
kennel (Hunt Club A) in Dutchess County.
 
On February 11, CDC was called by Edward Breitschwerdt, DVM, Professor
of Veterinary Internal Medicine, NCSU-CVM, who reported the diagnosis of
leishmaniasis in foxhounds from Hunt Club A.  Beginning in the late summer
of 1999, a number of foxhounds at Hunt Club A had developed illness with
manifestations including bleeding, wasting, seizures, hair loss, skin
lesions, kidney failure, and swollen limbs and joints; there have been
several deaths.  Several of the ill dogs were sent to NCSU-CVM for
diagnostic studies, and cytopathologic examination of joint fluid of one
of the hounds revealed amastigote forms of Leishmania spp.; this was
confirmed at autopsy of several dogs, and organisms were isolated and grown
in culture.  These findings were reported to John Huntley, DVM, New York
State Veterinarian (NYS-DAM), Millicent Eidson, DVM, MA, State Public
Health Veterinarian (NYS-DOH), and Michael Caldwell, MD, MPH, Commissioner,
DC-DOH, and further field and laboratory investigations were initiated.
Diagnostic studies at the Hunt Club A kennels revealed a high rate of
leishmanial seropositivity (39/93, 42%) among the group of foxhounds and
aspiration or biopsy of lymph nodes and other tissues of 15 seropositive
dogs resulted in isolation of Leishmania spp.  from 15 dogs.  The species
infecting the New York foxhounds was confirmed in early April by the
Leishmania Section of the Division of Experimental Therapeutics, WRAIR, as
Leishmania of the species complex donovani.  More precise identification
of the organism and its origin is in progress.  Serologic screening of
foxhounds (n=63) and other breeds of hunting dogs (n=28) in neighboring
kennels has revealed no additional cases of leishmania infection in
Dutchess County.  Attempts to demonstrate infection in wild rodents and
horses in the vicinity of the kennel through examinations of blood and
tissue samples have also been negative although the numbers of animals
examined to date has been small.  Serum specimens drawn from the attending
veterinarian and 5 employees of Hunt Club A who worked closely with the
foxhounds tested negative for antibodies to leishmaniasis.  Surveillance
for insect or other potential vectors will be initiated by the DC-DOH in
June.
 
Circumstantial evidence suggests that the NY foxhounds may have become
infected during hunts in other states.  Like most Hunt organizations, Hunt
Club A travels extensively during the active season and foxhounds from
different packs have opportunities to mix with each other in a number of
states.  Leishmania sp.  had been identified previously in dogs in the
United States in: Oklahoma in 1980; Kansas in 1982; Ohio in 1988; Michigan
in 1989; and Texas and Alabama in 1991.  There was no evidence of
infections in humans or in pet dogs in the vicinity of the infected dogs
reported previously in other states.
 
Leishmaniasis is a parasitic (protozoan) infection transmitted naturally
by the bite of an infected female sand fly (phlebotomid).  At least 20
different species of Leishmania parasites are known to cause infection in
humans.  How the infections in dogs in New York and other states are
being transmitted is unclear.  Although sand flies potentially capable
of transmitting certain species of Leishmania do occur in the southern
United States, no species of sand flies that are known to be vectors of
L. donovani have been reported.  Experimental evidence of dog-tick-dog
transmission of Leishmania sp.  has been reported but it is not known if
this occurs in nature.  There have been anecdotal reports of direct
dog-to-dog transmission of visceral leishmaniasis, and these foxhounds
commonly have close and intense contact with each other.  These infections
can also be transmitted from person to person through the sharing of
needles.  Dog-to-dog transmission without the intermediary of insect
vectors has been reported in dogs in northern European countries from dogs
imported from southern Europe where the infection is enzootic.  To date
there have been no documented autochthonous cases of visceral leishmaniasis
in humans in the United States.  Although direct transmission from an
infected dog to humans has never been reported, it is speculated to be
possible, and immunocompromised persons would be theoretically at greatest
risk.
 
With the cooperation of State Public Health and Agriculture agencies and
Foxhound Hunt Organizations, investigations are in progress to identify
infections in dogs and other potential hosts, to determine how it is being
transmitted, and to determine the potential public health significance of
this infection.  The Foxhound Organizations have recommended a temporary
cessation of interstate movement of foxhounds pending the collection of
more detailed information on the extent of this infection and its mode of
transmission.  To date, sera from more than 1000 foxhounds and other
hunting dogs from Eastern states have been tested at CDC.  Preliminary
serologic results have revealed the presence of seropositive dogs in
Virginia (2 kennels), Michigan (1 kennel) and Maryland (2 kennels); samples
of tissue from seropositive dogs are being obtained and placed into culture
(the sensitivity and specificity of the serologic test are not absolute and
require confirmation by isolation).  State veterinarians, state public
health veterinarians and practicing veterinarians who provide services to
Hunt clubs and foxhounds are asked to cooperate in this investigation by
acting as local sources of information, by facilitating the collection of
sera from foxhounds and other dogs with possible exposure to known infected
dogs and by participating in other aspects of the investigation.
 
Peter M. Schantz, VMD, PhD
Division of Parasitic Diseases
National Center For Infectious Diseases
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
Mailstop F22
4770 Buford Highway
Atlanta, GA 30341
 
Telephone: (770) 488-7767
Fax:       (770) 488-7761
e mail:    [log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 3062]