<i>Leishmania</i> spp. amastigotes in a peripheral blood smear from a dog: What does it indicate?

Abstract Romania, located in Eastern Europe, is generally considered a region with a low prevalence of Leishmania spp., although a few studies have reported both local and imported cases. A 1‐year‐old female American Staffordshire terrier was presented to a veterinary clinic in Cluj County, Romania, exhibiting clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities indicative of canine leishmaniosis following a stay in Spain earlier in January. This case is particular due to the detection of amastigotes in peripheral blood smears, an atypical occurrence, as the sensitivity of identifying these parasites in routine blood smears has been reported to be as low as 0.28%. Given the effects of ongoing climate change, the increased movement of people and animals between endemic and non‐endemic regions, and the detection of competent sand fly vectors in Romania, such cases are of significant concern to both the public and veterinary health sectors. In non‐endemic areas, canine leishmaniosis is often underrecognised by veterinarians, resulting in delayed or inaccurate diagnoses. Thoroughly investigating a dog's travel history at initial presentation can enhance the likelihood of early disease detection. This case represents a severe, imported form of canine leishmaniosis, confirmed through serology, cytology and real‐time PCR targeting the HSP70 gene.