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LeishGenR™ detects drug-resistance markers in Leishmania infantum before treatment starts.

LeishGenR™ is a genetic test for drug-resistance biomarkers in clinical samples from dogs. Your lab runs it under licence, with our protocols, training and analysis support. Already commercialised by UranoVet in Spain and Portugal, and by MyLav in Italy and the rest of Europe.

Request a LeishGenR™ licence See LeishGenR™ validation data
Leishmania infantum amastigotes inside a macrophage, stained microscopy image

Why resistance testing matters

Canine leishmaniosis is treated with a small set of drugs, and relapses are common. When the parasite carries resistance markers, the first treatment may not work, and time is lost.

A resistance result helps the vet choose the treatment and plan follow-up, and gives your lab a test that clinics cannot get elsewhere.

1 in 4

sick dogs in our studies carries drug-resistance markers.

What the LeishGenR™ test detects

Genetic drug-resistance biomarkers

A panel of genomic markers found in our Leishmania genome cohorts and linked to resistance to miltefosine, antimonials and allopurinol.

Directly from clinical samples

No parasite culture needed. Works on lymph node, peripheral blood, bone marrow, synovial fluid, skin biopsies and conjunctival swabs from dogs with leishmaniosis.

A clear report for the vet

Each marker reported as present or absent, with an interpretation the clinic can act on.

LeishGenR™, from sample to treatment decision

  1. Clinical sampleLymph node, blood, bone marrow, synovial fluid, skin or conjunctival swab
  2. DNA extractionStraight from the sample, no parasite culture
  3. qPCR or dPCRThe resistance markers are amplified and measured
  4. Marker reportEach marker present or absent, with interpretation
  5. Treatment choiceHelps the vet choose the treatment

Digital PCR assays for the LeishGenR™ markers

qPCR and digital PCR

Alongside the qPCR version, we have developed digital PCR (dPCR) assays for the same resistance biomarkers. dPCR splits each sample into thousands of separate reactions and counts the positive ones, which brings clear advantages for Leishmania samples.

qPCR

One reaction, read against a curve

thresholdcycles
The signal is compared with a standard curve. With few parasites it rises late (dashed line) and can stay close to the detection limit.

dPCR

Thousands of partitions, counted

The sample is split into thousands of tiny reactions. Each is positive or negative, and the positives are counted: an absolute number of copies, with no curve needed.

Low parasite loads

Works with few parasites, so less invasive samples such as peripheral blood can be used.

Absolute quantification

Counts target copies directly, with no standard curve to prepare or calibrate.

Precise marker measurement

Measures small differences in marker copy number that qPCR cannot resolve reliably.

Comparable between labs

Results compare well from one laboratory to another.

qPCR results are published in BMC Veterinary Research.

dPCR results are in press in Parasites & Vectors. Ask us about running the dPCR assays in your lab.

LeishGenR™, validated in a peer-reviewed study

95

dogs in the validation study

100%

specificity

>87.5%

sensitivity

Carrasco-Martín et al. (2026). Direct quantitative PCR detects genetic biomarkers of antileishmanial drug resistance in clinical samples from dogs with leishmaniosis. BMC Veterinary Research 22: 547.

What your lab gets with a LeishGenR™ licence

How licensing works and where the test is available

  • Technology transfer

    Protocols, reagents list and set-up in your lab.

  • Training

    Hands-on training for your technicians.

  • Analysis support

    Interpretation and reporting help from our bioinformaticians.

  • New markers

    Updates as new biomarkers are validated in our cohorts.

Request a LeishGenR™ licence discussion

Tell us about your lab and region. We reply within 2 working days.

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