Skip to content
Search Library
thumbnail

Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by Leishmania protozoa, is common in tropical regions around the world. It is uncommon in horses in the United States, though a few cases have been reported in horses living in Florida in the last several years.

Spread by the bites of sand flies, the disease causes lesions on internal organs, and this development is the second leading cause of parasite-related human deaths. Dogs are widely affected and may be a reservoir leading to human infection. In the United States, the disease is found in foxhounds more than in any other canine species.

Leishmaniasis is a risk for horses traveling internationally, especially to tropical regions and also some European countries, including Spain, Portugal, and Germany. Affected horses may develop skin nodules on the legs, head, ears, neck, or scrotum. The nodules, which often ulcerate, can initially be mistaken for sarcoids or aural plaques. Lesions on internal organs are not common in horses.

The skin nodules and ulcers can be surgically removed or treated with various medications, though some heal without treatment. Leishmaniasis is not fatal to horses, but because there is a risk that the protozoa can be transmitted to humans, horses suspected of having the disease should be examined and treated.

X

Subscribe to Equinews and get the latest equine nutrition and health news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for free now!