- Cutaneous infection may become a part of systemic infection
- Mostly caused by Leishmania
- Transmitted by sandflies
- Occurs in dogs, cats and rodents (also humans)
- Grossly in dog:
- Generalised alopecia
- Silvery white scales
- Nodules and ulcers if more severe
- Mainly on muzzle, ears and eyes where flies feed
- Microscopically:
- Hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, crusts
- Granulomatous nodules in dermis
- Macrophages, some lymphocytes and plasma cells - periadnexal pattern, may affect sebaceous glands
- Organisms may be found extra or intracellularly