[Canine leishmaniasis in Italy from 1910 to 1993].

Canine leishmaniasis has first been recorded in Italy by Basile (1910). Since then, many cases have been reported. In order to have a general picture of canine leishmaniasis distribution in Italy, from 1910 up to present times, we have collected all records of leishmaniotic dogs which have appeared in the literature, integrated by personal data. A map has been drawn, according to the origin of cases, showing: the present distribution of canine leishmaniasis in central and southern Italy and its islands; the persistence of canine leishmaniasis in some foci for the last 70 years or more; the increasing trend of new foci reports from the pre-war to present times. As opposed to the high diffusion of canine leishmaniasis there has been, in Italy, a marked reduction of human cases of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, a phenomenon which has been observed in other Mediterranean countries as well. Recent data on the epizoology of canine leishmaniasis are discussed.