Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leishmania antibodies found in 28% of dogs in Itaguai, Brazil
By Silva, Claudia Bezerra da et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2013·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Seroepidemiological aspects of Leishmania spp. in dogs in the Itaguai micro-region, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that nearly 28% of dogs in the Itaguai micro-region of Brazil tested positive for Leishmania, a parasite that can cause serious health issues. The highest rates were in mongrel dogs over two years old, especially those living in rural areas, outdoors, or without proper shelter. Factors like access to forests and streams also increased the likelihood of infection. This highlights the importance of keeping dogs safe from environmental risks and ensuring they have adequate shelter and care.
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Abstract
This study evaluated factors associated with the frequency of Leishmania spp. antibodies in dogs residing in the Itaguai micro-region, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 524 dogs. The serum samples were submitted to indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Leishmania spp. The frequency of seropositive dogs was 28.24% (n = 148) in the micro-region, and among the three municipalities within that region, the highest frequency (p < 0.05) was observed in Seropedica (59.46%), followed by Itaguai (29.05%) and Mangaratiba (11.49%). Regarding factors associated with the host, mongrel dogs and those over the age of two presented higher frequency of antibodies to Leishmania spp. (p < 0.05). Concerning factors related to the environment and habits of the animal, dogs residing in rural areas (FR = 1.67, p = 0.0002), living outside the residence (FR = 1.42, p = 0.0197), with access to forest, streams and pastures (FR = 2.81, p = 0.0007), remaining loose (FR = 1.66, p = 0.0073), and those that had no shelter (FR = 2.16, p < 0.0001) were more likely to be seropositive. Canine leishmaniasis is a disease with high occurrence in the Itaguai micro-region, and aspects such as the definition of breed, age, habits and care by owners showed significant association in this micro-region.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24252952/