Abstract
The present study was designed to assess the occurrence of co-infection or cross-reaction in the serological techniques used for detecting the anti-Leishmania spp., -Babesia canis vogeli and -Ehrlichia canis antibodies in urban dogs from an area endemic to these parasites. The serum samples from dogs were tested for the Babesia canis vogeli strain Belo Horizonte antigen and Ehrlichia canis strain São Paulo by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and by anti-Leishmania immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody detection to assess Leishmania infection. We used the following four commercial kits for canine visceral leishmaniasis: ELISA, IFAT, Dual Path Platform (DPP) (Bio Manguinhos(r)/FIOCRUZ/MS) and a rK39 RDT (Kalazar Detect Canine Rapid Test; Inbios). Of 96 serum samples submitted to serological assays, 4 (4.2%) were positive for Leishmania as determined by ELISA; 12 (12.5%), by IFAT; 14 (14.6%) by rK39 RDT; and 20 (20.8%), by DPP. Antibodies against Ehrlichia and Babesia were detected in 23/96 (23.9%) and 30/96 (31.2%) samples, respectively. No significant association was identified between the results of tests for detecting Babesia or Ehrlichia and those for detecting Leishmania (p-value>0.05). In the present study, we demonstrated co-infection with Ehrlichia or Babesia and Leishmania in dogs from Minas Gerais (Brazil); we also found that the serological tests that were used did not cross-react.
Highlights
The present study was designed to assess the occurrence of co-infection or cross-reaction in the serological techniques used for detecting the anti-Leishmania spp., -Babesia canis vogeli and -Ehrlichia canis antibodies in urban dogs from an area endemic to these parasites
This study was conducted in a region to the Northeast of Belo Horizonte that is endemic for canine vector-borne parasitic diseases caused by organisms of the genera Leishmania, Babesia, and Ehrlichia(9) (10) . (11) The study area was selected based on environmental and socioeconomical characteristics and consisted of a relatively flat, densely populated urban district containing predominantly oneor two-story buildings with woody vegetation between the plots
Serum samples were tested for the presence of antiLeishmania immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using the following four commercial canine visceral leishmaniasis kits: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
Summary
The present study was designed to assess the occurrence of co-infection or cross-reaction in the serological techniques used for detecting the anti-Leishmania spp., -Babesia canis vogeli and -Ehrlichia canis antibodies in urban dogs from an area endemic to these parasites. Methods: The serum samples from dogs were tested for the Babesia canis vogeli strain Belo Horizonte antigen and Ehrlichia canis strain São Paulo by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and by antiLeishmania immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody detection to assess Leishmania infection. To improve the accuracy of diagnosing CVL, the Brazilian Ministry of Health has recommended the use of an immunochromatographic rapid test consisting of rK26 and rK39 recombinant antigens, the Dual-Path Platform (DPP; Bio-Manguinhos/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) to screen infected dogs, and ELISA Bio-Manguinhos/FIOCRUZ to confirm the positive results(5)
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