Abstract
Canine leishmaniosis (Leishmania infantum) is a zoonotic disease that affects dogs worldwide. Greece is enzootic for this disease, and updated data for its current distribution are of major importance. The aim of this cross-sectional serological study was primarily to update the current knowledge of Leishmania infantum seropositivity status within the asymptomatic Greek canine population and, furthermore, to assess the possible climatological and other risk factors. In total, sera of 1265 asymptomatic dogs were collected from all prefectures of the country. A questionnaire that included all individual dog information was completed for all animals. The Speed Leish K® canine Leishmania antibody test kit (BVT Groupe Virbac, France) was employed. Potential risk factors were evaluated utilizing logistic regression models. Overall, 13.8% (n = 175) of the sampled dogs were seropositive to Leishmania infantum originating from all geographical departments of the country, whereas most prefectures had at least one seropositive animal. Outdoor living, high mean humidity, low mean wind speed and high total annual rainfall were found to increase the seropositivity status against the parasite. Conclusively, Leishmania infantum remains a common parasite challenge in the asymptomatic canine population of Greece, and therefore, its early diagnosis and effective prevention are significant in the country.
Highlights
Canine leishmaniosis (CanL), caused by the protozoon parasite Leishmania infantum
The objective of this study was to perform an updated countrywide sero-epizootiological study within the asymptomatic canine population regarding the spread of L. infantum in Greece by the detection of specific antibodies against L. infantum
The results indicate that five out of the 12 predictors were strongly related to L. infantum seropositivity in dogs
Summary
Canine leishmaniosis (CanL), caused by the protozoon parasite Leishmania infantum Dogs are the primary peridomestic reservoir hosts for this parasite [3,4], which can infect humans through bites of sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus [5], causing Human. Dogs that acquire the infection may remain asymptomatic for months or even for years and, in some cases, for their entire lives [6,7]. Previous canine population studies in enzootic areas have revealed that only a proportion of infected dogs manifest the clinical disease, while another fraction develops a subclinical infection, and yet another percentage of animals, which are resistant to this protozoon, manage to resolve the infection and self-heal [8,9,10]. The incubation period before the manifestation of symptoms may last from months to years [6]
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