Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leishmania infection risk factors in dogs in Northeast Brazil
By Braz, Beatriz Maria de Almeida et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2021·Laborató·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Factors associated with Leishmania infection in dogs and geospatial analysis in the Sertão of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In a study from Northeast Brazil, researchers found that 18.6% of dogs tested positive for Leishmania infection, which can cause serious health issues. Factors like living in rural areas increased the risk of infection, while keeping dogs indoors at night and regular deworming helped protect them. The study highlighted a specific area in the town of Mãe D'Água where the disease was actively spreading, suggesting that both rural and urban areas need attention to control the disease and protect pets and people.
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Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis with a worldwide distribution that has a major impact on public health. The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence of canine infection by Leishmania infantum, the factors associated with the infection and its spatial distribution in the municipality of Mãe D'Água, in the Sertão region of Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 150 dogs for diagnosis by the DPP®, ELISA-S7®, ELISA-EIE® and qPCR assays. The prevalence was calculated considering the positivity in at least two tests. SaTScan® was used for spatial analysis. The prevalence of canine infection with Leishmania was 18.6% (28/150), with the rural area being identified as a risk factor (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.93). The permanence of the dog loose during the night (OR = 0.33) and deworming (OR = 0.30) were identified as protective factors. A risk cluster was formed in the northern region of the urban area. Mãe D'Água showed a pattern of active transmission in the rural area, but VL control measures also need to be carried out in the urban area to prevent human cases and the spread of the disease in the risk zone.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34076051/