Abstract
Efforts to control a zoonotic disease such as visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania infantum can be successful if they rely on comprehensive data on animal infection. In Bahia state, Brazil, human VL is endemic, yet some areas have no epidemiological data on canine L. infantum infection and canine leishmaniasis (CanL) to date. We aimed to perform an epidemiological study describing the spatial distribution and characterizing canine L. infantum infection in two districts of the municipality of Muritiba, where human cases have occurred. Brazilian official serodiagnostic protocol (ELISA and immunochromatographic tests), PCR and clinical examination were performed in 351 owned dogs. A seroprevalence of 15.7% (55/351) was found, and L. infantum identified in 88.8% (32/36) of PCR tested samples. Spatial distribution of positive dogs indicated infection in both urban and rural districts. There was no association between seropositivity and sex or breed, but dogs older than 2 years were 3.8 times more likely to be seropositive (95% CI 1.57 - 9.18) than younger dogs. Among seropositive dogs, 80% (44/55) had clinical manifestations of CanL: 75% (33/44) presented dermatopathy, 50% (22/44) emaciation, and 29.5% (13/44) ophthalmopathy. This is the first report on canine seroprevalence and natural L. infantum infection in Muritiba, Bahia.
Highlights
Leishmaniasis is a spectrum of neglected vector-borne diseases caused by different species of protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania
Leishmaniasis continues to spread worldwide, and as of January 2020, the WHO Global Leishmaniasis program declared 56 countries as endemic for human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL), which is caused by Leishmania infantum in America and Europe and Leishmania donovani in Africa and Asia
The study was carried out in Muritiba (Figure 1A) because of the demand for veterinary assistance from owners of pet dogs that became sick and eventually had a confirmed diagnosis of L. infantum infection associated with canine leishmaniasis (CanL) in private veterinary clinics
Summary
More than 90% of these cases occur in developing countries such as Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan (Alvar et al, 2012). In Brazil, L. infantum is transmitted mainly by the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis, causing a zoonotic infection that affects humans, companion dogs and other domestic and wild mammals (Quinnell & Courtenay, 2009; Trüeb et al 2018). The domestic dog has been considered the main reservoir of the parasite and a key element in the epidemiological cycle (Campos et al, 2017). Monitoring canine L. infantum infection and canine leishmaniasis (CanL) cases is crucial to provide reliable data to promote and support One Health programs
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