Seroprevalence and molecular characterization of Leishmania in dogs from an endemic area of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil

Publication date: Available online 22 April 2017 Source:International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine Author(s): Josiane Valadão Lopes, Érika Monteiro Michalsky, Fabiana de O. Lara Silva, Ana Cristina V.M.R. Lima, Daniel Moreira de Avelar, Ailton Antunes Junior da Costa, João Carlos França-Silva, Shara Regina-Silva, Consuelo Latorre Fortes-Dias, Edelberto Santos Dias Current seroprevalence and circulating Leishmania species were evaluated in dogs domiciled in the municipality of Sabará, a small historic and touristic city in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. A total of 3926 dogs domiciled in seven different districts of Sabará were serologically tested for canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) and immunofluorescence (IFA) assays, in a two-years census survey (2011–2012). The average positivity rate of canine infection was 3.4%. Three additional diagnostic tests – imprint/smear direct parasitological, molecular (LnPCR) and myeloculture – were performed in a random sample of fifty seropositive dogs composed of symptomatic (39) and asymptomatic (eleven) animals. LnPCR showed 100% of positivity for Leishmania DNA in, at least, one among four tissue samples tested (mesenteric lymph node, skin, spleen and bone marrow), independently of the clinical canine group. Higher and statistically equivalent positivity rates (98% and 96%) for Leishmania DNA were found in canine lymph node and spleen. Asymptoma...
Source: International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research