Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine visceral leishmaniasis cases in Sao Jose de Ribamar Brazil
By Guimarães, K S et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2005·Curso de Especializaç, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine visceral leishmaniasis in São José de Ribamar, Maranhão State, Brazil.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In two villages in Brazil, a study found that about one in five dogs tested positive for leishmaniasis, a disease caused by a parasite. Many of these dogs showed no symptoms, but some had skin lesions and poor body condition. The presence of ticks and fleas was also noted in a significant number of the dogs. The findings suggest that both villages have conditions that could support the spread of this disease among dogs. Pet owners should be aware of the risks and symptoms of leishmaniasis, especially in areas where it is common.
People also search for: dog skin lesions leishmaniasis · symptoms of leishmaniasis in dogs · how to prevent ticks and fleas on dogs
Abstract
Here, we describe the situation of canine visceral leishmaniasis in two villages of São José de Ribamar in Maranhão State/Brazil, where human cases have been registered. Blood samples of 36 household crossbred dogs from Sergio Tamer village and 43 dogs from Quinta village were collected and the serum used for serological diagnosis. An Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect antibodies against Leishmania. The clinical examination showed that 25% of the canine population of Quinta presented a poor body condition and in 39%, ectoparasites (ticks and fleas) were detected. In both tests, serology revealed that 21% (9 out of 43) of the dogs presented antibodies against Leishmania (55% were asymptomatic and 45% were symptomatic). In the Vila Sérgio Tamer, 25% (9 out of 36) of the dogs were seropositive for Leishmania (66.67% were asymptomatic and 33.33% were symptomatic), 33% presented poor body condition, and 22% have ectoparasites. The clinical signs more frequent were skin lesions. The statistical analysis showed that there was no statistical difference (p>0.05) between the seropositivity of the dogs from the two villages. The same was observed when the clinical signs were compared (p>0.05). Both villages have favorable conditions to maintain the cycle of leishmaniasis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15967576/