RESUMEN
Dogs play an important role as reservoir in the domestic cycle of visceral leishmaniasis, a serious public health problem. An epidemiological survey in 1,112 dogs was conducted at the Municipality of Poxoréo State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, using indirect immunofluorescence antibody test where the prevalence was 7.8%. Significant association was found between prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis and age of the dogs. Clinical signs and presence of other animals in the backyard, like chicken being more likely associated with seropositivity. Gender, garbage collection in the residence and family financial income were not associated with visceral leishmaniasis prevalence. Analysis of the results suggests that dogs aging more than 7 years and presence of another animal species co-inhabiting with the dogs may be risk factors for canine visceral leishmaniasis.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Perros/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Perros/parasitología , Leishmaniasis Visceral/veterinaria , Animales , Brasil , Perros , Femenino , Leishmaniasis Visceral/epidemiología , MasculinoRESUMEN
Canine and human visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in several States of Brazil, and it is associated with infected dogs and the presence of the vector. Aiming at using polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic tool in dogs, we amplified a 120bp fragment from kDNA of Leishmania spp. by PCR in blood samples. The lower detection limit observed was 0.1 parasites per 500microL of blood, which is a highly satisfactory result. On the other hand, PCR evaluation in 166 blood samples of dogs from Poxoréo, MS, Brazil, resulted in 55% sensitivity and 66.3% specificity, considering indirect imunnofluorescent test as gold standard.