Epidemiological Survey on Canine Population With the Use of Immunoleish Skin Test in Endemic Areas of Human American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the State of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

A survey for canine tegumentary leishmaniasis (CTL) has been carried out between 1986 and 1993 in seven endemic localities for American cutaneous leishmaniasis in the State of Rio de Janeiro. 270 dogs have been examined for their clinical aspects, the development of delayed hypersensitivity (DHS) with Immunoleish antigen and with immunofluorescent antibody research of IgG (IF). 28.2% of them had ulcer lesions and 3.3% had scars. The lesions consisted of single (39.5%) and mucocutaneous lesions (31.6%), multiple cutaneous (25.0%) and mucocutaneous lesions associated with cutaneous ulcers (4.0%). Twelve (15.8%) isolates from biopsies were analyzed by zimodeme and schizodeme and identified as L. (V.) braziliensis. The overall prevalence of canine infection that was evaluated with the skin test was of 40.5% and with IF it was of 25.5%. Both tests showed a high positive rate with relation to the animals with mucosal lesions, as in the case of human mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. The comparison of the two tests showed the skin test to have a better performance although there was no statistical difference (p>0.05) between them. The proportional sensitivity and specificity was of 84.0% and 74.0%, respectively. The Immunoleish skin test and IF are useful tools to be employed in CTL field epidemiological surveys.<br>Um inquérito epidemiológico em população canina foi realizado em 7 localidades endêmicas de Leishmaniose Tegumentar Americana (LTA) entre os anos de 1986 a 1993, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Duzentos e setenta cães foram examinados, segundo os parâmetros: clínicos, desenvolvimento de hipersensibilidade tardia e dosagem de anticorpos por imunofluorescência indireta (IFI). 28,2% dos animais possuíam lesões e 3,3% eram portadores de cicatrizes compatíveis com infecção prévia de Leishmania sp. De um total de 98 lesões ulceradas detectadas, 39,5% eram cutâneas únicas, 25,0% lesões cutâneas múltiplas, 31,6% lesões de mucosa e 4,0% lesões de mucosa associadas a lesões cutâneas. Doze amostras (15,8%) colhidas de fragmentos de lesões cutâneas foram analisadas por zimodema e esquizodema e identificadas como Leishmania (V.) braziliensis . A prevalência da infecção canina avaliada pelo teste cutâneo e pela IFI foram respectivamente de 40,5% e 25,5%. A comparação entre as reações mostrou que o teste cutâneo foi superior na detecção da infecção e da doença canina, embora, sem diferença estatística significante (p> 0,05). A sensibilidade e a especificidade proporcional foram respectivamente de 84,0% e 74,0%. A utilização de ambas as reações, cutânea e sorológica mostraram-se úteis como instrumento de diagnóstico epidemiológico em áreas de LTC

Evaluation of antigens from various Leishmania species in a Western blot for diagnosis of American tegumentary leishmaniasis.

“…The overall cross-reactivity observed in serum samples from patients with positive diagnosis for ATL and in non-related microorganisms and other conditions indicates antigenic similarity between Leishmania and bacteria such as Mycobacterium species, as demonstrated by significant cross-reactivity in serologic tests. 51,52,59,60,62 We did not find any common antigenic band with 100% recognition that was diagnostic for all sera from patients with ATL. The more specific fractions for Leishmania antigens were 42 kD for L. (V.) braziliensis, 50 kD for L. (V.) amazonensis, and 58 kD for L. (L.) tropica with a frequency of recognition of 53.70%, 72%, and 47.80%, respectively.…”

“…A comparison of indirect immunofluorescence and the intradermal reaction in the diagnosis of leishmaniasis give a statistically significant agreement value (Z ϭ 9.72, P Ͻ 0.01) but a poor kappa index (0.32). 59 An epidemiologic study of visceral leishmaniasis examined 50 unselected subjects living in a high risk area for visceral leishmaniasis simultaneously by means of a skin test and Western blotting. 60 The criterion of positivity in the Western blot used was based on the presence of antibodies directed against the L. infantum 14-kD and/or 16-kD antigens.…”

Is the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) a reservoir host of American cutaneous leishmaniasis? A critical review of the current evidence.

“…84,94,96,116 Similarly, indirect comparisons of sensitivity can also be made by comparing the results for all reported surveys using a specific diagnostic method (Table 2). 38,57,61,[68][69][70]72,73,76,77,80,81,82,84,85,89,90,92,[94][95][96][97][99][100][101]103, Due to their logistic convenience and relatively high sensitivity, serologic tests are the standard tools for identifying Leishmania-infected dogs (Table 2). However, difficulties associated with the interpretation of seroprevalence data are 1) serology is prone to nonspecific cross-reactions (false-positives), e.g., due to Trypanosoma cruzi infection; 136 2) there may be a delay between infection and seroconversion (i.e., a prepatent period); 110,112,113,[137][138][139] 3) a fraction of infected dogs may never seroconvert; 137,[140][141][142] and 4) seroconversion may not be permanent.…”

Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis infection in two Colombian dogs: a note on infectivity for sand flies and response to treatment

“…Systemic and local therapy for canine cutaneous leishmaniasis using pentavalent antimonials have resulted in cure rates ranging from 80.9 to 86.6%, however in the intramuscular treatment clinical resolution was followed by recurrence in a high percentage of animals (>40%) (5,25). Clinical cure, even in the absence of parasite clearance, could be beneficial to reduce potential reservoir competence.…”

“…The natural infection of dogs with Leishmania (Viannia) spp. in rural and periurban areas of South American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Perú and Venezuela has been reported by several authors (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). However in Colombia, where three species of Leishmania (Viannia) are endemic (9), no published information on canine cutaneous leishmaniasis is available.…”