Prevalence of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in dogs in an endemic area of Brazil

Abstract

Introduction:The northeast region of Brazil is endemic for zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection in dogs in Petrolina. Methods: Blood samples were collected from dogs (n = 600), and bone-marrow biopsy was performed in animals with positive serological test results that presented clinical signs of ZVL. The serological analyses were performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (S7 ® Biogene). Results: Of the 600 dogs tested, 19% (115/600) presented anti-L. infantum chagasi antibodies. Conclusions: Our data are important because canine infection is an important risk factor for the human disease.

Leishmaniose visceral em cães de assentamentos rurais

“…A prevalência total (38,6%) de cães sororreagentes diagnosticada no presente estudo esta em consonância com outros resultados que relatam a alta prevalência da LVC na região Nordeste, em grandes centros urbanos e em cidades do interior dos estados, como observado em São Luiz/ MA (51,61% área rural), Petrolina/PE (17% área urbana e 27% área rural), Mossoró/RN (34% área urbana e 45% área rural) e Natal/RN (10,3% área urbana) (Amóra et al 2006, Abreu-Silva et al 2008, Barbosa et al 2015, Pimentel et al 2015. A prevalência variou de 2,54% a 16,1% entre os assentamentos dos diferentes municípios, apesar de todos estarem localizados na região semiárida.…”

Seroprevalence and spatial distribution of canine leishmaniasis in an endemic region in Brazil: how has the situation changed after 10 years?

“…There has been no report of risk factors for CVL in Garanhuns, but the absence of basic sanitation, poor garbage-disposal practices, and presence of accumulated organic matter have been evidenced here and in other areas endemic for CVL 4,15 . Finally, to our knowledge, this study is the first to assess the spatial distribution of dogs seropositive for Leishmania infantum in the municipality of Garanhuns.…”

“…In endemic areas, dogs are considered the main reservoir of the parasite, with seroprevalence rates ranging from 1.9% to 35% 4 . Accordingly, it is important to monitor the infection in these animals in order to estimate and predict the number of human cases, as dogs act as a sentinel for VL.…”

“…Northeastern Brazil has been traditionally endemic for VL, and humans, animal reservoirs, and vectors share the same ecological niche, thus contributing to the persistence of Leishmania life cycle 4 . Nonetheless, in some areas, little attention has been paid to CVL over the past years.…”

Características epidemiológicas y clínicas de la leishmaniasis visceral en Paraguay de enero de 2008 a diciembre de 2014.

“…"La Leishmaniosis Visceral, en general, endémica en 98 países y territorios y es responsable de una carga de la enfermedad de 2,35 millones de AVAD (años de vida ajustados por discapacidad), de los cuales 2,3% ocurren en las Américas" (9,10,11)en el país es endémica, registrándose la mayor proporción de los casos en un área geográfica que abarca al distrito de Asunción y a los departamentos de Central,la seroprevalencia canina por lo que constituyen el principal factor de riesgo para el ser humano (19,20), el mapeo correspondiente de las áreas endémicas y la implementación de estrategias de intervención en estas áreas.…”