Table 1.
Summary of the co-infections observed in each group.
Fig 1.
Study schedule with the main parameters assessed in each time-point.
Table 2.
Sex repartition, mean weight and age of the dogs at the beginning of the study (mean ± SD).
Fig 2.
L. infantum IFAT titers of the dogs in the 3 groups at W0, W4 and W12.
Plasma samples were collected at each time point from dogs in the Miltefosine, IN immunotherapy, and Miltefosine + immunotherapy groups. Serology from two dogs in the Miltefosine group and one in the combination group could not be performed at W12. Two dogs died in the Miltefosine group before W12, and two others could not be sampled at W0. One dog in the immunotherapy group and two dogs in the combination group died before W12. Solid lines represent the median values, and dash lines show the IFAT threshold = 1/40. * p < 0.05.
Fig 3.
Clinical scores of the dogs in the 3 groups at W0, W4 and W12.
The evaluations were made by a veterinary practitioner at the owners’ homes. Horizontal lines represent the mean values ± SD.
Fig 4.
Bone marrow infection: Absolute number of L. infantum DNA copies per μL (N/μL), analyzed by PCR from BM samples of the dogs in the 3 groups, at W0, W4 and W12.
One dog in the Miltefosine group and one in the combination group could not be sampled. Circles represent raw data, and horizontal lines represent the median values. Null values were plotted at 1 N/μL due to logarithmic scale.
Fig 5.
Bone marrow infection: Presence or absence of parasite (%) observed by microscopy from BM samples of the dogs in the 3 groups, at W0, W4 and W12.
Fig 6.
Skin infection: Presence or absence of parasite (%) observed by microscopy from skin samples of the dogs in the 3 groups, at W0, W4 and W12.