Imported case of canine viscerocutaneous leishmaniasis in South Korea: clinical presentation and diagnostic approach in a Labrador Retriever.

Importance: Leishmaniasis, a sandfly-borne disease, can infect both humans and dogs, with dogs acting as key reservoirs. This report documents the first case of leishmaniasis in South Korea, identified in a dog imported from Spain. It highlights the importance for early detection and careful monitoring of dogs imported from endemic regions to prevent the introduction and spread of leishmaniasis to regions such as South Korea, where the disease is rare.

Case presentation: A 2-year-old male Labrador Retriever dog, imported from Spain at 12 months old, was presented with a 5-month history of generalized cutaneous lesions and a 1-month history of chronic diarrhea. Microscopic examination of peripheral blood smears revealed amastigote-infected macrophages and whole-blood polymerase chain reaction confirmed a diagnosis of viscerocutaneous leishmaniasis. The dog was treated with allopurinol, the only available treatment for leishmaniasis in South Korea, alongside supportive management. However, the patient showed a poor response to treatment.

Conclusions and relevance: This case of canine leishmaniasis in South Korea highlights the growing risk of imported infections in non-endemic areas and underscores the need for greater awareness and understanding of the clinical features of Leishmaniasis for timely diagnosis and management in dogs with a history of travel or adoption from endemic regions.