In the first semester of 2011 (Feb. 11th) in Rome, the spring meeting of the CLWG has been held. The main aims were to update the guidelines of diagnosis and treatment of canine leishmaniasis in comparison to those published in 2007 and 2008, respectively. In addition, the half-day program within the mainframe of the International SCIVAC congress of Rimini has been discussed focusing on the several oral presentations to be accepted and reviewed. The criteria to award the best oral presentation for the “CLWG-Hill’s prize for the best contribution to the advancement of knowledge in leishmaniasis” have been assessed. Moreover, the resignation of Prof. Castagnaro has been accepted that were caused by institutional duties that did not allow to him to attend the activities of the CLWG.

In the meeting held in Rome the last November 5th, the CLWG modified its organization, establishing two subgroups that replace the previous subgroups. The two current subgroups are so called and composed:

“Management and implementation of studies and protocols on canine leishmaniasis”, coordinated by Dr. Michele Maroli, to which all the CLWG members are affiliated,

“CLWG management and promotion” coordinated by Prof. George Lubas, which included Dr. Paola Badiale and Dr. Alberto Crotti.

In the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association has been definitively published the guidelines of the CLWG with the following final titles and list of authors which participated to the preparation of the articles:

Paltrinieri S., Solano-Gallego L., Fondati A., Lubas G., Gradoni L., Castagnaro M., Crotti A., Maroli M., Oliva G., Roura X., Zatelli A., Zini E. - Guidelines for diagnosis and clinical classification of leishmaniasis in dogs – J Am Vet Med Assoc, 236 (11): 1184-1191, 2010 ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20513195

Oliva G., Roura X., Crotti A., Maroli M., Castagnaro M., Gradoni L., Lubas G., Paltrinieri S., Zatelli A., Zini E. - Guidelines for treatment of leishmaniasis in dogs - J Am Vet Med Assoc, 236 (11): 1192-1198, 2010 ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20513197

Maroli M., Gradoni L., Oliva G., Castagnaro M., Crotti A., Lubas G., Paltrinieri S., Roura X., Zini E., Zatelli A. - Guidelines for prevention of leishmaniasis in dogs - J Am Vet Med Assoc, 236 (11): 1200-1206, 2010 ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20513198

The publication in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association of the guidelines prepared by CLWG is rapidly approaching. Indeed, the proof of the articles has been reviewed and the following final titles and list of authors included in the papers have been already indicated:

• Canine leishmaniasis: guidelines for diagnosis and clinical classification
  Authors: Saverio Paltrinieri, Laia Solano-Gallego, Alessandra Fondati, George Lubas, Luigi Gradoni, Massimo Castagnaro, Alberto Crotti, Michele Maroli, Gaetano Oliva, Xavier Roura, Andrea Zatelli, Eric Zini,
• Canine leishmaniasis: guidelines for treatment
  Authors: Gaetano Oliva, Xavier Roura, Alberto Crotti, Michele Maroli, Massimo Castagnaro, Luigi Gradoni, George Lubas, Saverio Paltrinieri, Andrea Zatelli, Eric Zini
• Canine leishmaniasis: guidelines for prevention
  Authors: Michele Maroli, Luigi Gradoni, Gaetano Oliva, Massimo Castagnaro, Alberto Crotti, George Lubas, Saverio Paltrinieri, Xavier Roura, Eric Zini, Andrea Zatelli

Second semester 2009

The second semester of 2009 has been characterized by a intense activity in reviewing and updating of the guidelines in Canine Leishmaniasis that soon will be published in the prestigious Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association in three sections
as:

• Canine leishmaniasis: guidelines for diagnosis and clinical classification
• Canine leishmaniasis: guidelines for prevention
• Canine leishmaniasis: guidelines for drug therapy.

First quarter January-March

The paper “Canine leishmaniasis: Guidelines on diagnosis, staging, therapy, monitoring, and prevention: Part II: therapy” has been published in the number 6 of December 2008 of Veterinaria journal (pages 9-20). This work report in detail the presentation performed at the 59th International Multi-hall Congress SCIVAC of Rimini, including the up-date of therapy to October 31th, 2008. Unfortunately, an erratum should be reported regarding the page 14 in the part dealing with Miltefosine where a dosage of 2 mg/kg BID instead of being SID has been written.

On February 7th, 2007 a meeting between the coordinators of the study subgroups has been held in Cremona. In that occasion has been discussed and updated the consensus statements prepared during 2006 in order to achieve a final master to be discussed in the meeting of all members of C.L.W.G. planned to occur in Rimini on May 31st 2007.

In the general meeting of C.L.W.G. on May 31st 2007, during the 56th National Congress of SCIVAC, held in Rimini from June 1st through June 3rd, the following scientific activities have discussed and approved:

In 2006 two meetings have been held, the former in Montecatini on March 23rd and the latter in Palermo on October 13th, in occasion of Seminars organized by S.C.I.V.A.C. entitled “Update on leishmaniasis: from diagnostic approach to therapeutic protocols”. During each meeting the controversial points of the consensus statement document about the guidelines in diagnosis, staging, therapy, monitoring, and prevention of canine leishmaniasis have been collectively discussed by the members of C.L.W.G.