The effect of age on the adaptation of the brain to the anticonvulsant effect of phenobarbital in mice

The anticonvulsant effect of phenobarbital was examined in young (6 month old) and old (24 month old) BDF1 female mice consisting of three groups each (one control and two chronically dosed phenobarbital groups), using the abolition of the tonic hindlimb extensor component of maximal electroshock seizure as the index. The minimal effective concentrations (MEC) of phenobarbital in plasma and brain in old control mice that were given a vehicle (tragacanth) for one week were significantly lower in comparison to the respective values in young adult control mice with the same treatment, confirming our previous findings. In young mice chronically treated with phenobarbital for one week (20 mg/kg daily for two days followed by daily dose of 50 mg/kg for 5 days), the MECs in both plasma and brain were significantly higher compared with respective control values. The 3 week treatment also produced an increase in MEc comparable to the one-week treatment. The same one-week treatment with phenobarbital in old mice similarly caused significantly higher plasma and brain MEC values but 3-week-treatment values were not significantly different from corresponding control values. It is concluded that the development of brain adaptation to phenobarbital is almost equal for young and old mice, so that the reduction in MEC with age indicates the need for lowered dosages for the aged, even when the age effect on brain adaptation developed to chronic dosing is taken into consideration.     

The effect of perinatal 60Co gamma radiation on brain weight in beagles

Beagle dogs were given single, whole-body 60Co gamma-radiation exposures at one of three prenatal (8, 28, or 55 days postcoitus) or three postnatal (2, 70, or 365 days postpartum) ages to evaluate the relative radiosensitivity of various stages of brain development. A total of 387 dogs received mean doses ranging from 0.16 to 3.83 Gy, and 120 dogs were sham-irradiated. Groups of dogs were sacrificed at preselected times from 70 days to 11 years of age. Brain weight decreased significantly with increasing dose in dogs irradiated at 28 or 55 days postcoitus or at 2 days postpartum. Irradiations at 28 days postcoitus were dramatically more effective in causing a reduction in brain weight than those at 55 days postcoitus or 2 days postpartum. Among dogs given 1.0 Gy or more and followed for up to 4 years, there was a radiation effect evident at all three sensitive exposure ages. Among dogs given lower doses and followed for up to 11 years, there was a significant decrease in brain weight in dogs given 0.80-0.88 Gy at 28 days postcoitus. All decreases in brain weight were present after normalization for radiation-induced reductions in skeletal (body) size. No specific morphologic changes were noted in the brains which showed the radiation-related reductions in size.     

Effects of Phenylbutazone and Indomethacin on the Post-operative Course following Experimental Orthopaedic Surgery in Dogs

Randomized placebo-controlled crossover studies were carried out in dogs to evaluate how two non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) might modulate an acute post-traumatic inflammatory reaction. Two “identical” surgical interventions were performed on the forelimbs of each animal with an interval of 28 days, to enable a paired comparison of the inflammatory signs and the wound/bone healing processes. At one operation 8 dogs received 300 mg phenylbutazone twice daily for 8 days starting on the day before surgery, and at the other operation matching placebo tablets were given. In a similar placebo-controlled trial another group of 8 dogs received 5 mg indomethacin twice daily. With phenylbutazone the post-operative swelling was not significantly reduced compared to placebo, but there was less pain and limping. With indomethacin the swelling was somewhat reduced, but there was no consistent difference to placebo in the pain and limping assessments. None of the drugs appeared to distinctly effect the wound or fracture healing, as evaluated by clinical inspection, comparison of radiographs and comparison of bone sections from the sites of surgery. It proved difficult to select an appropriate dosage of indomethacin due to its high potential to induce GI ulceration and bleeding in dogs. In this experimental surgical model with an acute inflammation, neither phenylbutazone nor indomethacin showed impressive anti-inflammatory or analgesic properties. In the same model paracetamol has proved to significantly and more efficiently, reduce both swelling and pain without any noticeable adverse effects, and appears to be a better alternative than the two presently tested NSAID.     

Fish oil decreases matrix metalloproteinases in knee synovia of dogs with inflammatory joint disease

This study was designed to determine whether dietary fish oil affects the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), tissue inhibitors of MMP-2 (TIMP-2) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) in synovial fluid from dogs with spontaneously occurring stifle (knee) instability in a single hind limb resulting from acute cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injury. Two groups of 12 dogs were fed diets from 1 week prior to surgery on the affected knee to 56 days post-surgery. The fish oil and control diets provided 90 and 4.5 mg, respectively, of combined eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/kg body weight per day. Plasma and synovial fluid, from both surgical and nonsurgical knee joints, were obtained at start of the diet (-7), surgery day (0) and 7, 14, 28 and 56 days post-surgery. Plasma total EPA and DHA were significantly increased, and plasma total arachidonic acid (AA) was significantly decreased by the fish oil diet. In synovial fluid from the nonsurgical knee, fish oil treatment significantly decreased proMMP-2 expression at Days 7 and 14, and proMMP-9 expression at Day 56, and uPA activity at 28 days and significantly increased TIMP-2 expression at Days 7 and 28. There were no differences in MMP expression or activity, TIMP-2 expression and uPA activity in the surgical joint synovial fluid at any time throughout the study. These results suggest that dietary fish oil may exert beneficial effects on synovial fluid MMP and TIMP-2 equilibrium in the uninjured stifle of dogs with unilateral CCL injury.     

外科新三联疗法治疗糖尿病足的临床观察

目的:观察外科新三联疗法(外科换药-威伐激光-成纤维细胞生长因子)治疗糖尿病足溃疡的临床疗效和安全性。方法:将57例糖尿病足溃疡患者随机分为2组。对照组28例,采用外科换药辅以成纤维细胞生长因子外敷治疗;治疗组29例,在对照组治疗的基础上配合威伐激光照射治疗。疗程为8周,观察两组患者的治疗有效率、愈合时间和不良反应的发生情况。结果:治疗组和对照组的有效率分别为86.21%、57.14%,治疗组显著高于对照组(P0.05);且治疗组溃疡的愈合时间(39.40±2.24天)较对照组(50.67±2.31天)明显缩短(P0.01)。此外,两组患者均无明显的不良反应发生。结论:外科新三联疗法(外科换药-威伐激光-成纤维细胞生长因子)是治疗糖尿病足溃疡的有效方法,且安全性好。     

Ivermectin against larval stages of Dirofilaria repens in dogs

The prophylactic efficacy of ivermectin against Dirofilaria repens infections in dogs was investigated. A first trial was carried out on 15 dogs exposed to four inoculations of L3 larvae at 15-day intervals and treated, in groups of five, with 0, 6 or 12 micrograms/kg body weight of ivermectin given per os 30 and 60 days after the first inoculation. Necropsy, performed about 9 months later, revealed that worm burdens were reduced by 86.6 and 92.8% for the 6 and 12 micrograms/kg dose levels, respectively. In a second trial with an otherwise identical protocol, a dose rate of 24 micrograms/kg of ivermectin was tested in 12 dogs. Only one of the six treated dogs was found worm free at necropsy. The worm burden was reduced by 87.9% in treated animals as opposed to controls. A lengthening of the prepatent periods, which might be considered dose related, was apparent in all treated groups. Ivermectin was not completely effective in preventing establishment of experimental infections with D. repens in dogs.     

Evaluation of fasciotomy and vasodilator for treatment of frostbite in the dog

Severe freezing injury was produced in the hind foot of 26 mongrel dogs. All dogs were given daily whirlpool treatment and protective bandaging for 14 days following injury. In addition, certain dogs received a vasodilator, fasciotomy, or both vasodilator and fasciotomy following injury. Deep foot temperatures, foot volumes, tissue pressures, and 14 day tissue loss-salvage scores were compared. Significant differences between fasciotomy and nonfasciotomy dogs were seen in foot temperature, volume, and tissue pressure immediately following fasciotomy. Though there was no significant difference in 14 day tissue loss, there was clinically apparent prolongation of integrity of the local vascular system for 2 to 5 days following fasciotomy, and total foot salvage in several dogs receiving fasciotomy.     

Efficacy of oral fluralaner (Bravecto) against Tunga penetrans in dogs: A negative control,randomized field study in an endemic community in Brazil

The sand flea Tunga penetrans is one of the zoonotic agents of tungiasis, a parasitic skin disease of humans and animals. The dog is one of its main reservoirs. This negatively controlled, randomized, double-masked clinical trial evaluated the therapeutic and residual efficacy of fluralaner for treatment of dogs naturally infested with T. penetrans. Sixty-two dogs from an endemically affected community in Brazil were randomly assigned to either receive oral fluralaner (Bravecto chewable tablets) at a dose of 25 to 56 mg fluralaner/kg body weight, or no treatment (31 dogs per group). Dogs were clinically examined using a severity score for acute canine tungiasis (SCADT), parasitological examinations as defined by the Fortaleza classification, and pictures of lesions on days 0 (inclusion and treatment), 7 ± 2, 14 ± 2, 21 ± 2, 28 ± 2, 60 ± 7, 90 ± 7, 120 ± 7 and 150 ± 7. The percentage of parasite-free dogs after treatment was >90% between days 14 and 90 post-treatment with 100% efficacy on study days 21, 28 and 60. Sand flea counts on fluralaner treated dogs were significantly lower (p<0.025) than control dogs on all counts from day 7 to 120. The number of live sand fleas on treated dogs was reduced by > 90% on day 7, > 95% on days 14 and 90, and 100% from day 21 to 60, and with a significant difference between groups from day 7 to 120. From day 7 to day 120, mean SCADT scores were significantly reduced in treated dogs with a mean of 0.10 compared to 1.54 on day 120 in untreated dogs. Therefore, a single oral fluralaner administration is effective for treating and achieving long lasting (> 12 weeks) prevention for tungiasis in dogs.     

Oral administration of an anti-inflammatory does not compromise the efficacy of intra-testicular injection of zinc gluconate as a contraceptive for dogs

The objective was to determine whether the efficacy of zinc gluconate (Testoblock(?)) as a chemical contraceptive in male dogs was compromised in the presence of metamizole sodium (a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory/analgesic agent). Ten sexually mature mongrel dogs were assigned to two groups, a control group (n = 5) and a treated group (n = 5). Testoblock(?), a proprietary zinc-gluconate (13.1 mg zinc/ml) solution in a physiological vehicle, was injected into each testis (0.2-1.0 ml/testis, based on testis width). Half of the dogs (treated group) were also given metamizole sodium (also known as sodium dipyrone) orally (25mg/kg three times a day for 2 days), starting 2-3 h after testis injection. A physical examination and assessment of testis width, hematology, clinical chemistry (hepatic and renal function) and semen characteristics, were done immediately after treatment and then every 2 months for 180 days. There was no post-treatment scrotal biting or licking, although there was transient testicular swelling in both control and treated dogs during the first 3 days after injection. At 60 days after injection, all dogs were azoospermic. At 120 and 180 days, seven dogs had azoospermia and the remaining three (two control and one treated) had apparent aspermia (no ejaculate could be collected). There were no significant differences between groups for clinical findings or any aspect of hematology, renal, or hepatic function. In conclusion, giving metamizole sodium concurrent with an intra-testicular injection of a zinc-based solution did not interfere with chemical sterilization and it improved animal welfare.     

The pentylenetetrazole-kindling model of epilepsy in SAMP8 mice: behavior and metabolism

This work describes a novel epilepsy model, combining pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) kindling with the senescence-accelerated mouse P8 (SAMP8) a model for aging. The 2- and 8-month-old SAMP8 mice were treated with PTZ, phenobarbital plus PTZ or saline every 48 h during a period of 40 days. Both 2- and 8-month-old PTZ-kindled mice showed a behavioral pattern that was very similar to severe chronic epilepsy with secondary generalized seizures. Two out of six 8-month-old animals died in the PTZ group. Interestingly, atypical absence seizures were limited to the 8-month-old PTZ group. Furthermore, 8-month-old mice were more sensitive to the sedative effect of phenobarbital. The concentrations of several amino acids were examined by HPLC. Lower levels of amino acids were found in the 8-month-old compared to the 2-month-old control animals. No biochemical changes were observed between the groups of 2-month-old animals, while in the 8-month-old animals both treatment groups showed significantly higher concentrations of GABA, glutamine and glutathione. Thus, it could be shown that cerebral metabolism of 8-month-old SAMP8 mice was more sensitive to PTZ and phenobarbital than metabolism of 2-month-old mice. Furthermore, it is suggested that glutamate metabolism in brains of 8-month-old SAMP8 mice is altered and that excessive glutamate is transformed, in considerable amounts, into glutamate related metabolites, possibly in astrocytes.     

小青龙汤加味联合盐酸左西替利嗪胶囊治疗鼻鼽的疗效及免疫功能探究

摘要 目的：探究小青龙汤加味联合盐酸左西替利嗪胶囊治疗鼻鼽的疗效及免疫功能。方法：选择2018年12月至2020年4月陕西省中医医院诊治的鼻鼽患者102例,按照随机的数字表法分为两组,研究组60例,给予小青龙汤加味联合盐酸左西替利嗪胶囊治疗;对照组62例,给予盐酸左西替利嗪胶囊治疗,两组均持续治疗28 d,对比两组治疗的有效率、治疗前后症候积分、免疫指标免疫球蛋白E（immunoglobulin E,IgE）、白介素（interleukin,IL）IL-4、IL-12、IL-17A、IL-35 及不良反应的情况。结果：治疗前,两组的症候积分比较无差异（P>0.05）,治疗28 d后,两组的症候积分均显著降低,且观察组显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗后观察组的总有效率为91.67 %,显著高于对照组（75.81 %,P<0.05）。治疗前,两组的IgE、IL-4、IL-12、IL-17A、IL-35 的水平对比无差异（P>0.05）,治疗后28 d,两组IgE、IL-4、IL-17A水平均降低,IL-12、IL-35 的水平升高,且研究组均优于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗期间观察组不良反应的发生率为8.33 %,与对照组对比无差异（11.29 %,P>0.05）。结论：小青龙汤加味联合盐酸左西替利嗪胶囊治疗鼻鼽,能够显著改善患者的症候,提高疗效,改善患者的免疫功能,同时有助于矫正体内免疫功能失衡,系可能是治疗鼻鼽的机制,同时不会增加不良反应。     

Effect of tamoxifen citrate on reproductive parameters of male dogs

Tamoxifen is a synthetic, nonsteroidal Type I antiestrogenic compound that competitively blocks estrogen receptors with a mixed antagonist-agonist effect. The manifestation of these different actions depends on each species, organ, tissue and cell type considered. Very little is known about the effect of antiestrogens in dogs. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of tamoxifen citrate on some testis, prostate, hormone, and semen parameters in seven Beagle dogs with uncomplicated spontaneous benign prostatic hyperplasia. Two dogs were normospermic, four were oligozoospermic, and one was azoospermic. The dogs were allocated to a control pre-treatment period, followed by a treatment period, and five post-treatment periods (the duration of each period was 4 weeks). During the treatment period, 2.5mg tamoxifen citrate was given p.o. daily for 28 days to all the dogs. Maximum scrotal width, testicular consistency, libido semen parameters, prostatic volume, serum testosterone concentrations, and side effects were assessed. Tamoxifen negatively affected testis size and libido (P<0.01), and decreased prostatic volume (P<0.01) and testosterone concentrations during treatment. Semen quality deteriorated to nadir values (P<0.01) approximately one spermatic cycle after treatment and returned to pre-treatment values on the second cycle after treatment in all the dogs, except one young oligoazoospermic dog, in which the sperm count was higher ( P<0.01 ) at that time. No side effects were observed and fertility was conserved at the end of the study. Tamoxifen acted more like an agonist than antagonist on the gonadal axis and, therefore, upon both the prostate and testis. Therefore, tamoxifen may have therapeutic applications in dogs.     

Relation between glutathione and cytoplasmic protein sulfhydryl groups in the rat: a rapid procedure for analytical determination

A simple rapid determination of glutathione (GSH) and cytoplasmic protein bound SH groups (PBSH), appropriate to study their relationship in tissues, in rat liver, kidney and testis was developed. Hepatic GSH and PBSH were measured after treatment with methyl iodide (400, 800 mg/kg, after 0.5 h), diethyl maleate (2 ml/kg, after 1h), carbon tetrachloride (1.2 ml/kg, after 3 h), phenobarbital (80 mg/kg for 3 days). Methyl iodide and diethyl maleate showed a decrease of GSH and PBSH; after treatment with phenobarbital an increase of GSH and PBSH was observed; no decrease of GSH and PBSH was found after carbon tetrachloride intoxication.     

Trypanosoma cruzi: immunoglobulin isotype profiles during the acute phase of canine experimental infection with metacyclic or blood trypomastigotes

A detailed investigation has been carried out about the serological profiles of groups of dogs experimentally infected with metacyclic (MT) or blood (BT) trypomastigotes of Berenice-78 Trypanosoma cruzi strain. Peripheral blood was collected from infected dogs and uninfected controls, weekly during 35 days following the acute phase of infection, and immunoglobulin profiles were determined by ELISA. Dogs infected with BT exhibited unaltered levels of IgG2, increases in IgM, IgE, IgA, IgG and IgG1. In contrast, dogs infected with MT presented unaltered levels of IgE and IgG1 and an increase in IgM, IgA, IgG and IgG2 levels. Compared with the MT group, animals infected with BT showed significant increases in IgM on days 7, 14 and 28, in IgA on days 7, 14 and 21, in IgE on days 7 and 14, in IgG on days 14 and 28, and in IgG1 on days 7, 14 and 21. Parasitemia levels of the infected animals were measured over the same time period. No correlations were found between the immunoglobulin profiles and the parasitemia levels. The results demonstrated that the inoculum source (BT or MT) influence the immunoglobulin isotype profile that may drive distinct outcome of acute canine Chagas disease.     

Effects of septal lesions on the lordotic behavior of weanling male and female rats

Twenty-four-day-old weanling male and female rats were either lesioned in the septal area, gonadectomized, lesioned and gonadectomized, or not treated. Tests for lordotic behavior were carried out at 27 and 28 days of age after priming with estradiol alone and with estradiol plus progesterone. A second set of tests for lordotic behavior was carried out at 47 and 48 days of age. In the interim period, some of the animals were given chronic estrogen treatment. In tests given at 27 days of age, septal lesions facilitated lordotic responding after estrogen priming; no differences were observed between male and female animals. At 47 and 48 days of age, however, unless male rats had been exposed to chronic estrogens following septal lesioning, no facilitation of estrogen-induced lordotic behavior occurred. In addition, it was found that female rats gonadectomized at 24 days of age and given no exposure to estrogens between the tests at 27 and 28 days and those at 47 and 48 days of age showed reduced sensitivity to estrogens, as compared to normal or estrogen-treated females, whether lesioned or not.     

Benzodiazepine - specific and nonspecific tolerance following chronic flurazepam treatment

Rats were given a flurazepam solution as their only water source for 4 weeks. The drug concentration was adjusted so the rats would consume 100–150 mg/kg daily. This treatment is known to cause a reduction in the number of specific benzodiazepine binding sites (receptor down-regulation) and tolerance to the locomotor impairment caused by the injection of a large test dose of flurazepam. Both the tolerance and the receptor down-regulation disappear within 24 hours after the end of chronic treatment. After 4 weeks of flurazepam treatment, rats were tested for locomotor impairment and loss of the righting response caused by pentobarbital, ethanol or diazepam. There was a small tolerance to pentobarbital. This lasted at least 4 days, but had disappeared by 7 days. Rats also had a small tolerance to ethanol, which disappeared between 24 and 48 hours after the end of chronic flurazepam treatment. In contrast, there was a large tolerance to diazepam, but this was gone by 24 hours after the end of chronic treatment. It appears that two types of tolerance develop during benzodiazepine treatment: (1) tolerance specific for benzodiazepines possibly mediated by receptor down-regulation, and (2) nonspecific tolerance, possibly analogous to that which develops during chronic barbiturate treatment.     

Assessment of the anti‐feeding and insecticidal effects of the combination of dinotefuran,permethrin and pyriproxyfen (Vectra® 3D) against Triatoma infestans on rats

This study, based on the rat model, was designed to explore the anti‐feeding and insecticidal efficacy of a topical ectoparasiticide, dinotefuran–permethrin–pyriproxyfen (DPP), against Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), a vector of Trypanosoma cruzi (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae), for which dogs are domestic reservoir hosts. Twenty rats were divided into two equal groups: untreated and treated. Each rat was exposed under sedation to 16 T. infestans of mixed life stages for 1 h on days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 post‐treatment. The anti‐feeding and insecticidal effects of DPP were estimated after 1 h of exposure. Insecticidal efficacy was also assessed after incubation of the insects for 24 h post‐exposure. Anti‐feeding efficacy was 96.7, 84.7, 80.5, 81.5 and 42.6% on days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28, respectively. Insecticidal efficacy evaluated at 1 and 24 h after exposure on days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 was 100, 91.2, 82.5, 80.0 and 29.1, and 100, 100, 100, 96.0 and 49.9%, respectively. This study demonstrates that a single administration of DPP spot‐on treatment at a dose equivalent to the minimal recommended dose in rats has a powerful effect against T. infestans starting from day 1 that lasts for at least 3 weeks.     

Induction of liver lysosomal enzymes during the autophagic phase following phenobarbital treatment of rat

Phenobarbital was given to male rats as a single injection and as repetitive injections for 7 days. The effects of treatment on the lysosomal hydrolases acid phosphatase, cathepsin D, and aryl sulfatase were analyzed at different intervals ranging from 1 to 15 days after seven injections, and from 1 to 48 h after a single injection. In both cases, microsomal protein and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase were measured to ensure proper induction. After a single injection, a slight decrease in hydrolytic activities was observed. Repetitive administration of phenobarbital gave rise to a marked decrease of lysosomal enzyme activities 1 day after cessation of treatment. This decrease was followed by a continuous increase in activity up to day 3 and 4. One or 2 weeks after treatment, enzyme activities declined to control values. The increase in activity of lysosomal hydrolytic enzymes was correlated with the onset of induced autophagy of endoplasmic reticulum membranes described as occurring in liver upon cessation of phenobarbital exposure. It is concluded that phenobarbital treatment per se decreases lysosomal enzyme activities, whereas the induced autophagy following cessation of exposure is associated with enhanced levels of lysosomal hydrolases in rat liver.     

Adrenocortical Suppression by a Glucocorticoid: Effect of a Single i. m. Injection of Betamethasone Depot Versus Placebo given Prior to Orthopaedic Surgery in Dogs

The suppression of the endogenous serum Cortisol level by a single i. m. injection of 3 mg betamethasone depot (Celeston Chronodose∞) prior to orthopaedic surgical interventions on the forelimbs of 8 dogs was studied in a placebo–controlled cross–over trial. Compared to placebo the endogenous serum Cortisol level was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced for a period of 4 days, and then returned to the pre–operative range. During the 28–day observation period after each surgical intervention no impairment of wound healing, bleeding episodes or side–effects which could be attributed to the glucocorticoid, was seen.     

Potential of Artesunate in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum: Efficacy evidence from a randomized field trial

Leishmaniasis is among the world’s most neglected diseases. Dogs are the main reservoirs/hosts of Leishmania infantum, causative agent of both canine and human visceral leishmaniosis. Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) represents a public health problem as one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases worldwide. Current therapeutics present drawbacks; thus, there is a need for more effective, safer, and cheaper drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate and to compare the efficacy of oral administration of artesunate or meglumine antimoniate/allopurinol in dogs with clinical leishmaniasis. Forty-two dogs with naturally occurring clinical leishmaniasis were included in this open-label, simple randomized positive-control clinical field trial with 6 months of follow-up. Dogs received meglumine antimoniate 100 mg/kg/day and allopurinol 30 mg/kg/day for 28 days (control group, n = 26) or artesunate 25 mg/kg/day for 6 days (test group, n = 16). The animals were evaluated for their clinical evolution, parasite load (by qPCR) and humoral response at different time points: 0, 30, 90, and 180 days after treatment. Data analyses showed a significant improvement in both groups in clinical scores, parasitemia and antibody titers after treatment. Compared to the control group, the artesunate group showed significantly lower clinical score (P = 0.0001), lower parasitemia (P = 0.0001) and antibody titers after 6 months of follow-up. Compared to baseline values, a rapid, significant reduction (P < 0.012) in antibody levels, 2.28- versus 3.04-fold for the control versus artesunate groups, respectively, was observed 30 days after treatment. Antibody levels continued to decrease further in the artesunate group, where 58% of cases became seronegative at the 6-month follow-up. All qPCR-positive dogs were negative after treatment with artesunate, while 14.3% remained positive with the appearance of two new cases in the control group. Artesunate was well tolerated, and no side effects were recorded. Treatment failures were similar in both groups with 27.27% (6/22), including 18.18% (4/22) mortality in the control group, versus 26.66% (4/15), including 13.33% (2/15) mortality in the artesunate group. This is the first report showing the potential of artesunate in the treatment of dogs with clinical leishmaniasis. Artesunate showed higher efficacy than the current first-line treatment for CanL without any adverse effects. It could be a good alternative chemotherapy for CanL, and may be considered for further studies in human leishmaniases. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings, to determine if there are relapses after treatment and if dogs remain infective to sandflies, to define the ideal therapeutic dosage and duration of treatment with artesunate.