Canine visceral leishmaniosis: first case in Zambia.

Visceral leishmaniosis was discovered in a male 12year-old Australian cattle dog in September 1994. Canine leishmaniosis has not previously been reported in Zambia. At necropsy, splenomegaly, fatty degeneration of the liver and focal lesions in the renal cortex were observed. Histopathologically, focal diffuse proliferation of amastigote-laden macrophages (ALM) were found in the spleen and liver. Amastigotes were diffusely distributed in the pulmonary alveolar wall, and formed minute lesions in the adrenal cortex. Focal degenerative interstitial nephritis and myocarditis were observed, but ALM were hardly found in these lesions. The animal had lived in Lusaka for the previous 2 years at least, where it was likely to liave had a Leishmania pfirasitaemia. Although the ecology of sandflies in Zambia is still veiled, the present case of canine leishmaniosis could be an indication of widespread leishmaniosis in this coutry, not only in dogs, but also in humans, particularly as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is prevalent in the country.