[RESULTS] The main findings were : 1 ) dogs that received rLdccys1 with P. acnes did not display increase of the following clinical signs : weight loss , alopecia , onychogryphosis , cachexia , anorexia , apathy , skin lesions , hyperkeratosis , ocular secretion , and enlarged lymph nodes ; they also exhibited a significant reduction in the spleen parasite load in comparison to the control dogs ; 2 ) rLdccys1-treated dogs exhibited a significant delayed type cutaneous hypersensitivity elicited by the recombinant antigen , as well as high IgG2 serum titers and low IgG1 serum titers ; sera from rLdccys1-treated dogs also contained high IFN - and low IL-10 concentrations ; 3 ) control dogs exhibited all of the clinical signs of visceral leishmaniasis and had low serum IgG2 and IFN - levels and high concentrations of IgG1 and IL-10 ; 4 ) all of the dogs treated with rLdccys1 were alive 12 months after treatment , whereas dogs which received either saline or P. acnes alone died within 3 to 7 months .