# Clinical and Clinico-Pathological Observations of the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate in Dogs Affected by Leishmaniosis and Monitored During Antileishmanial Treatment

## TL;DR

This study shows that the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) can help monitor inflammation and treatment response in dogs with leishmaniosis.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates ESR's effectiveness as a point-of-care tool for tracking treatment progress in canine leishmaniosis.

## Key findings

- ESR levels significantly decreased during and after antileishmanial treatment in dogs.
- ESR reduction was accompanied by improvements in other inflammatory and immune markers.
- ESR can be used to stage disease severity and monitor treatment response in canine leishmaniosis.

## Abstract

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) has been increasingly used in canine medicine to assess inflammation levels. In this study, ESR was assessed in 43 dogs affected by severe leishmaniosis and treated with an antileishmanial treatment protocol based on antimonial and allopurinol for four weeks. This was performed to evaluate this inflammatory marker’s response to treatment. All dogs were classified according to the clinical staging proposed by the Canine Leishmaniosis Working Group (CLWG) and were examined at the beginning (T1) of treatment, in the middle (T2) of treatment, and 7–10 days after the end of the treatment (T3). ESR was compared to several other inflammatory and immune response markers typically investigated in dogs with leishmaniosis. During the follow-up, ESR, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and ferritin (as inflammatory markers), as well as gamma-globulins and Immunoglobulin G (as immune response markers), decreased significantly in response to treatment. ESR values may therefore help to stage the severity of canine leishmaniosis and to monitor the response to antileishmanial treatment.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is used in canine medicine in several disorders, especially to evaluate the levels of inflammation. ESR is a valid inflammatory marker in canine leishmaniosis (CanL), being markedly increased in sick dogs. This study evaluated the ESR together with several other inflammatory and immune response markers in 43 dogs affected by severe leishmaniosis, treated with antileishmanial treatment. Dogs were monitored at the beginning (T1) of treatment, in the middle (T2) of treatment, and 7–10 days after the end of the treatment (T3). The antileishmanial treatment was based on meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol for four weeks plus adding prednisolone at the anti-inflammatory dosage progressively tapered within the T2 set point. The ESR was measured and compared to immune and/or inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, ferritin, gamma-globulins, IgG). ESR levels were statistically reduced during treatment and significantly decreased at the end of the treatment. This came along with an improvement in other blood markers. This study shows the utility of ESR as a point-of-care test that can be used to monitor the response of dogs to antileishmanial treatment.