Vaccine trial against canine visceral leishmaniasis in Iran

In this study, 16 eligible dogs were randomly divided to 4 groups. Group 1: were received Autoclaved leishmania infantum vaccine with BCG. Group 2: were received Autoclaved leishmania major vaccine with BCG. Group 3: were received BCG alone and Group 4: were received normal saline. Dogs received the vaccine intradermally at 30 days interval for 3 times. All dogs were followed up at 2 months intervals by leishmanin skin test and anti leishmania immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) and Directagglutination test (DAT) for detection of IgG and IgM antibodies in blood collections. 90 days after third dose, all dogs received an intraperitoneal challenge of 2.5x10(6) infective promastigotes of leishmania infantum. About 6 months after follow up, necropsy was performed in all dogs to detect the parasites. Result of this study shows that all of the dogs in unvaccinated group were infected with Linfantum but invaccinated group only one dog was infected.