Leishmaniasis in the province of Salamanca, Spain. Prevalence in dogs and seasonal dynamics of vectors

Abstract

SUMMARY.Of 433 dogs examined in 4 natural zones of Salamanca Province, Spain, the pre valence of canine leishmaniasis (IFAT titres > 1/80) was 0-3 % in most mountain villages and from the Castillian plateau (> 600 m. a. s. 1.) and 10-15 % in villages situated on hillsides (« flanc du coteau ») with elevations < 600 m. a. s. 1. An exception was the high prevalence found in the area around the city of Salamanca owing to its height (800 m. a. s. 1.) and flood-plain situation.Of 5,105 sandflies captured with sticky traps, P. perniciosus and P. ariasi were well repre sented at the sites with high prevalences of canine leishmaniasis but not elsewhere. Their abun dance in the periurban area of the city of Salamanca is attributed mainly to human transforma tion of the environment. Of the two species, only with P. ariasi can a linear relationship be observed between density and the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis, which seems to show that in Salamanca P. ariasi is its main vector. The probable lower observed vectorial capacity of P. perniciosus could be due to the fact that no progressive physiological ageint towards the end of the summer was observed.Patients with leishmaniasis in the Province come from sites with the highest prevalence of canine leishmaniasis. Key-words: Leishmaniasis. Prevalence. Vectors.La leishmaniose dans la province de Salamanque, Espagne. Prévalence chez les chiens et dynamique saisonnière des vecteurs. RÉSUMÉ.De 433 chiens analysés, dans les quatre zones naturelles de la province de Salamanca, les pourcentages de Leishmaniose canine (titres IFAT = 1/80) ont été de 0-3 % dans la plupart des villages des montagnes -à climat alpin -et dans les villages de la plaine de la province (700-900 m au-dessus du niveau de la mer) et de 10-15 % dans les villages situés à mi-versant et à des altitudes inférieures aux 600 m (au-dessus du niveau de la mer). Une exception parmi les hautes prévalences a été la zone périphérique de Salamanca capital, par son altitude (800 m) et sa situation dans une « vega ».Des 5 105 phlébotomes capturés au moyen de trappes adhésives, P. perniciosus et P: ariasi ont été bien représentés seulement dans les lieux ayant de hautes prévalences de Leishmaniose canine. Leur abondance dans la zone périphérique de Salamanca capital est attribuée, fondamen talement, aux transformations anthropogéniques de l'environnement. Des deux espèces, unique ment chez P. ariasi peut être observé un rapport linéal entre sa densité et la prévalence de la Leishmaniose, ce qu'indiquerait qu'à Salamanca P. ariasi est son vecteur principal. Probable- Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Sala manca 37007 (Spain). Departamento deAccepté le 25 mai 1988.

Serological Survey of Canine Vector-Borne Infections in North-Center Spain

“…No significant differences were found by sex in this study, similar to other previous studies focused on these diseases such as other studies (3,11,19,46). When age was assessed, no significant differences were observed between age groups, although differences have been observed in other epidemiological studies (4,5,11,(47)(48)(49)(50). Regarding habitat of the animals, significantly higher prevalences were found in outdoor and indoor/outdoor dogs, as described by other authors (3,5,11,51), since outdoor animals are more exposed to vectors.…”

Current Distribution of Selected Vector-Borne Diseases in Dogs in Spain

“…The results of this research confirm not only the presence of leishmaniasis in the north, but its wide expansion throughout all the autonomous communities traditionally considered free of the disease, and, for the first time confirm its presence in some autonomous communities, such as La Rioja. In this study, the epidemiological map of the disease is completed, only studied in some provinces of the autonomous communities (i.e., Andalusia, Extremadura, Castile and Leon, Castilla la Mancha, Valencian Community, Catalonia, or Aragon) (9,15,17,(50)(51)(52)(53). Furthermore, for the first time, the seroprevalence of L. infantum in the Canary Islands is estimated.…”

Geographical Variation and Factors Associated to Seroprevalence of Canine Leishmaniosis in an Endemic Mediterranean Area

“…The previously mentioned study in Córdoba and others, draw attention to the importance of periurban residential areas as foci of canine leishmaniosis in Spain. Many houses in these areas have gardens and keep dogs, thus offering sandflies optimal shelter, humidity and availability of vegetable matter and canine hosts (Martínez‐Cruz et al., 1990; Amela et al., 1995Encinas Grandes et al., 1998). High seroprevalence zones in this study were to a great extent developed in this way, but so were other zones with low or medium seroprevalence.…”

“…The specific ecological and climatic requirements of the vector determine the distribution of Leishmaniosis worldwide. Canine infection in Spain has very low prevalence in the North and is endemic elsewhere where seroprevalence is commonly <20%; however it is not uniformly distributed and tends to be higher in rural and periurban residential areas compared with urban environments (Martínez‐Cruz et al., 1990; Acedo Sánchez et al., 1996; Encinas Grandes et al., 1998; Fisa et al., 1999; Moral et al., 2002; Amusategui et al., 2004; Miró et al., 2007). Sandflies breed and rest in dark, sheltered terrestrial sites.…”