Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leishmania infection and antibodies found in dogs from Acre Brazil
By Bento, Gleice Kelly Carvalho et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2024·Centro de Ciê·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Occurrence of Leishmania spp. DNA and specific antibodies in dogs from Acre State, Rio Branco, Brazil.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study in Brazil found that 38.1% of dogs tested positive for leishmaniasis, a disease spread by sand fly bites. Blood samples from 375 dogs over six months old were analyzed, and 28.3% of those showed active infection. This highlights the need for pet owners in tropical areas to be aware of leishmaniasis and take preventive measures against sand flies. Education on how to protect dogs from these insects is crucial to reduce the risk of this disease.
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Abstract
Canine leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease whose agents are transmitted through the bites of infected phlebotomine sand flies. This disease is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions, including Brazil. However, information on its prevalence in dogs in some Brazilian states remains limited. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of canine leishmaniasis in Rio Branco, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 375 dogs aged > 6 months. Two distinct serological methods, dual path platform test (DPP) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), were used to investigate the occurrence of anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies. The results showed a seroprevalence of 38.1%, indicating that the disease occurred in this region. Blood samples considered positive in at least one of the serological methods were subjected to conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which confirmed the presence of infection in 28.3% (106/375) of the total samples. This is the first study to provide detailed information on the seroprevalence of canine leishmaniasis in dogs in Rio Branco, highlighting the importance of disease surveillance and control. Effective actions, such as education campaigns on sand fly prevention and control measures, are necessary to reduce the occurrence of canine and human leishmaniasis in cities.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39630741/