Potential demographic, clinical, and environment risk factors for canine visceral leishmaniasis using IFAT and nested PCR, southeastern Iran

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a fatal disease with major veterinary and medical impacts. In the present study, we investigated the significance of potential demographic, clinical, and environmental risk factors for canine VL (CVL), southeastern Iran. This study was performed between 2014 and 2015 on 210 randomly selected stray dogs which were caught by live traps. A 5 ml blood sample was taken from cephalic vein for indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and nested PCR. The cut-off titer for IFAT was 1:320. For molecular test, two sets of general and specific primers were used to amplify variable mini circle region of kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). Data analyses were performed by x 2 and logistic regression tests at P < 0.05. Overall, 210 dogs consisting of 87 males and 123 females were examined and 14 dogs (6.7%) were considered infected with VL. Age < 2 years (OR = 14.106, CI = 1.810–109.924, P = 0.012); short hair (OR = 15.311 CI = 1.965–119.324, P = 0.009); solid waste (OR = 0.050 CI = 0.006–0.388, P = 0.004); weather with water, clouds, and creek (OR = 0.089, CI = 0.011–0.692, P = 0.021); and nearby dog present (OR = 0.065, CI 0.008–0.509, P = 0.009) were the major risk factors associated with CVL. In contrast, sex, tick infested, meadow, and clinical signs were negatively associated odds of infection. Control approaches should be directed toward specific demographic and environmental factors to reduce the risk of CVL in the area.