Serological and molecular survey of Leishmania infection in dogs from Luanda, Angola

Hugo Vilhena,Gad Baneth,Ana Cristina Oliveira,Luís Cardoso,Henk Dfh Schallig,Yaarit Nachum-Biala,Sara Granada

doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-114

Abstract

BackgroundCanine leishmaniosis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum is a global zoonosis endemic in more than 70 countries in Europe, North Africa, Asia and America; however, data on this infection is scarce from southern Africa. The aim of this study was to survey dogs in Luanda, Angola, for Leishmania infection.FindingsOne hundred-and-three dogs presented to a veterinary medical centre in Luanda were serologically and molecularly assessed for Leishmania with the direct agglutination test (DAT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two dogs were seropositive, with DAT titres of 800 and ≥6400; the latter was also found to be PCR-positive and confirmed to be infected with L. infantum by DNA sequence analysis. No other dog was found to be PCR-positive. The first dog had been imported from Portugal, but the latter had never left Angola (neither had its parents), strongly suggesting an autochthonous infection.ConclusionsAlthough other cases of CanL have previously been described in the country, this is the first reported study of canine Leishmania infection at the population level, as well as the first report on the molecular characterization of L. infantum in dogs from Angola.

Highlights

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum is a global zoonosis endemic in more than 70 countries in Europe, North Africa, Asia and America; data on this infection is scarce from southern Africa
Conclusions: other cases of CanL have previously been described in the country, this is the first reported study of canine Leishmania infection at the population level, as well as the first report on the molecular characterization of L. infantum in dogs from Angola
Leishmania chagasi) is the agent of zoonotic visceral leishmaniosis, in southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America, Central Asia and China; while Leishmania donovani is the agent of anthroponotic visceral leishmaniosis mainly in the Indian subcontinent and East Africa [1]

Summary

Introduction

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum is a global zoonosis endemic in more than 70 countries in Europe, North Africa, Asia and America; data on this infection is scarce from southern Africa. Conclusions: other cases of CanL have previously been described in the country, this is the first reported study of canine Leishmania infection at the population level, as well as the first report on the molecular characterization of L. infantum in dogs from Angola. Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) due to L. infantum is a global zoonosis regarded as endemic in more than 70 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and America, with dogs being the main reservoir for the human infection [2,3,4,5].

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