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Abstract
BackgroundChagas disease is a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The role of dogs as sentinels has been proposed in multiple regions, as they are a domestic reservoir for T. cruzi. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in shelter dogs from southern Louisiana, and assess its magnitude and distribution.ResultsA total of 540 dogs were enrolled, from 20 animal shelters, and tested for T. cruzi infection by serological tests (rapid test, ELISA and western blot) and PCR. We documented a high prevalence of T. cruzi infection with at least 6.9% (95% CI: 5.0–9.3%) seropositive and 15.7% (95% CI: 12.9–19.1%) PCR-positive dogs. Serological tests showed limited agreement, and concordance between serology and PCR was higher when considering reactivity to single serological tests. Trypanosoma cruzi infection was distributed evenly among shelters. Infection was significantly correlated with age (R2 = 0.99), indicating an incidence of new cases of 2.27 ± 0.25% per year.ConclusionTrypanosoma cruzi infection is a significant and widespread veterinary problem in shelter dogs in the region, although it is mostly unnoticed by health professionals. This highlights the need for greater awareness of T. cruzi infection among the veterinary community and dog owners.
Highlights
Chagas disease is a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi
Serological diagnostics of T. cruzi infection We collected a total of 540 blood samples from participating shelter dogs
We documented a high prevalence of T. cruzi infection in shelter dogs in southern Louisiana, USA, with at least 6.9% seropositive and 15.7% polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive animals
Summary
Chagas disease is a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is transmitted to mammalian hosts through the feces of infected triatomine bugs during blood-feeding. It is a major public health problem in the Americas, with over 6 million cases in Latin America [1]. Trypanosoma cruzi infection in dogs has been well documented in Texas, since at least the 1980s [7, 8] and domestic transmission cycles have been identified [9]. Triatomine blood meal analysis documented that bugs frequently feed on canines in kenels [17, 18]
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