Dog on treatment for leishmaniosis: keep the repellent?
6-year-old German Shepherd diagnosed with leishmaniosis, on allopurinol after completing the leishmanicidal drug and now free of clinical signs. The owner asks whether he can remove the deltamethrin collar.
What do you tell him?
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A. Yes: if it is already infected, the repellent adds nothing
Precisely because it is infected, the dog can infect the sandflies that bite it. The repellent reduces this transmission to other dogs and to people.
B. Yes: allopurinol eliminates the parasite and the dog is no longer infectious
Allopurinol is leishmaniostatic: it controls the parasite load but does not eliminate the infection. Treated dogs can remain infectious to the vector.
C. It only needs to wear it while on meglumine antimoniate or miltefosine
The risk of transmission does not end with the leishmanicidal drug: the infection persists for life and relapses are possible.
D. No: it must keep the repellent continuously, because it remains a reservoir and can infect sandflies
Correct. Treatment reduces parasite load and infectiousness but does not eliminate them. A continuous repellent protects other dogs and people, and prevents new infective bites.
lightbulb Key takeaway
The dog is the main reservoir of Leishmania infantum in Spain. A repellent in infected dogs has a community effect: it reduces transmission in the area. Explain it to the owner as part of the treatment, not as an option.
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Updated: October 31, 2026 · Educational content for veterinary professionals. It does not replace current clinical guidelines or the judgement of the attending veterinarian.