The veterinary surgeon as an actor of public health: Example of the canine leishmaniosis, a vector-borne zoonosis.

Canine leishmaniosis is an anthropozoonosis of increasing importance in which dogs are the main reservoir and source of parasites (Leishmania infantum Nicolle, 1908) for humans and for other dogs. Both diagnosis and treatment of the disease are difficult. The easy movement of dogs from endemic areas into safe areas is common. The involvement of species of wildlife has also been demonstrated Because of their experience and skills as frontier staff and therapists, in case of confirmation of leishmaniosis in a dog, veterinary surgeons can propose a specific treatment and should prescribe vaccination as well as the use of topical insecticide preparations which will have an impact on the incidence of human clinical cases.