Seroprevalence rates of antibodies againstLeishmania infantum and other protozoan and rickettsial parasites in dogs

Abstract

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum, which infects dogs and humans in many regions of Brazil. The present study involved an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) to analyze L. infantum, Ehrlichia spp., Babesia canis, Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infection rates in serum samples from 93 dogs in a rural settlement in Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil. The seroprevalence rates of anti-L. infantum, anti-Ehrlichia, anti-B. canis, anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies were 37.6%, 75.3%, 72%, 47.3% and 6.4%, respectively. In addition to IFAT, direct microscopic examination of popliteal lymph node aspirates revealed 26.9% of CVL positive dogs. Serological tests revealed that 17.2% of the dogs were seropositive for a single parasite, 29% for two parasites, 33% for three, 16.1% for four, and 1.1% for five parasites, while 3.2% were seronegative for five parasites. The presence of antibodies against these parasites in serum samples from dogs confirmed their exposure to these parasites in this rural area. Because of the potential zoonotic risk of these diseases, mainly leishmaniasis, ehrlichiosis and toxoplasmosis, special attention should focus on programs for the improvement of diagnostic assays and control measures against these parasites.

All about neosporosis in Brazil

“…may enhance the susceptibility of dogs to N. caninum infection (CRINGOLI et al, 2002). Serological surveys correlating N. caninum and Leishmania spp., had been conducted ANDREOTTI et al, 2006;GUIMARÃES et al, 2009;GRECA et al, 2010;VALADAS et al, 2010a;LOPES et al, 2011;PAULAN et al, 2013;SEABRA et al, 2015;CONSTANTINO et al, 2016). In dogs from endemic cities of visceral leishmaniosis such as Araçatuba, SP , Campo Grande, MS (ANDREOTTI et al, 2006), and Teresina, PI (LOPES et al, 2011), positive association was found (Table 3).…”

Molecular and serological detection of tick-borne pathogens in dogs from an area endemic for Leishmania infantumin Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

“…The diagnosis of VL has proved to be problematic, mainly because of the wide variety of non-specific clinical symptoms, including a broad spectrum of presentations (BLAVIER et al, 2001). The immunosuppression observed in VL may promote the occurrence of co-infections with other agents such as Ehrlichia, Babesia, Dirofilaria, Toxoplasma and Neospora in endemic regions (FEITOSA et al, 2000;PAULAN et al, 2013). On the other hand, a primary infection with tick-borne agents is likely to be a contributing factor to the establishment of canine VL, as was shown for ehrlichiosis in a longitudinal study of naturally exposed naïve dogs (MEKUZAS et al, 2009 …”

Occurrences of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora spp., and Sarcocystis neurona in horses and dogs in the municipality of Pauliceia, São Paulo, Brazil

“…In Brazil different rates of occurrence of antibodies against T. gondii, Neospora spp., and S. neurona among horses, and antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum in dogs have been reported (LOCATELLI-DITTRICH et al, 2006;PAULAN et al, 2013;GENNARI et al, 2016;RIBEIRO et al, 2016).…”

“…Dogs can also act as intermediate hosts and may be severely affected by N. caninum (DUBEY, 2013). The presence of antibodies against N. caninum in dogs has been reported worldwide and sometimes dogs have been implicated as a potential risk factor for infection in livestock (FERROGLIO et al, 2007;PAULAN et al, 2013;ABREU et al, 2014). Furthermore, dogs are considered to be sentinels for T. gondii infection, because of their feeding behavior.…”

“…Paulan et al (2013) examined serum samples from rural dogs in Ilha Solteira (São Paulo), and found occurrences of 47.3% for T. gondii and 6.4% for N. caninum. However, in the study by Lopes et al (2015), stray dogs in Natal (Rio Grande do Norte) presented lower occurrences: 12.7% and 2.9% for T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively.…”