Canine leishmaniasis vaccines

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CaVL) is caused by Leishmania infantum in the Mediterranean, Near Asia, and African countries, and by L. chagasi in part of South America. The two species are also the causative agents of human visceral leishmaniasis in these areas. Prevention of CaVL appears to be the best approach for interrupting the domestic cycle of this zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis. The most suitable approach would seem to be a canine vaccination that induces a sterile immunity. This review describes various experimental approaches to dog vaccination using, in a dog models, (1) live promastigote forms of L. infantum, (2) crude Leishmania proteins (L. major promastigotes extracts, leishmanial multi-component antigenic protein, fucose manose ligant antigens of L. Donovan), (3) partially-purified extract of L. infantum, (4) recombinant purified antigens (membrane glycoprotein gp63, multi-component antigenic protein, and canine interleukin-12), and (5) DNA vaccines (plasmid carrying the gene for the Leishmania activated C kinase antigen from L. infantum).