Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leishmania infection found in 25% of dogs in Sichuan China
By Shang, Li-min et al.·Published in Parasites & vectors·2011·Institute of Military Veterinary, China·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The prevalence of canine Leishmania infantum infection in Sichuan Province, southwestern China detected by real time PCR.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In Sichuan Province, southwestern China, a study found that nearly 25% of dogs tested positive for Leishmania infantum, a parasite that can cause serious health issues in both dogs and humans. The research showed that older dogs and those showing symptoms were more likely to be infected. This highlights the importance of monitoring and treating infected dogs to help control the spread of this disease, which can be transmitted to humans through sandflies. Taking action to manage canine leishmaniasis is crucial for protecting both pets and people in these areas.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in western China, and becoming an important public health concern. Infected dogs are the main reservoir for Leishmania infantum, and a potential sentinel for human VL in endemic areas. In the present study we investigated the prevalence of Leishmania DNA in dogs from Wenchuan, Heishui and Jiuzhaigou County in Sichuan Province, southwestern China, which are important endemic areas of zoonotic VL, detected by real time PCR. The results will help to design control strategies against visceral leishmaniasis in dogs and humans. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of Leishmania DNA in dogs was 24.8% (78/314) in Sichuan Province, with the positive rate of 23.5% (23/98) in Wenchuan County, 28.2% (20/71) in Heishui County, and 24.1% (35/145) in Jiuzhaigou County, and no significant difference was observed among the three counties (P > 0.05). The dogs were further allocated to different groups based on sexes, ages and external clinical symptoms. The logistic regression analysis revealed that a higher prevalence was found in older and external symptomatic dogs, compared to that of younger and asymptomatic dogs (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that L. infantum infection in dogs is widespread in Sichuan Province, southwestern China, which has a public health significance, due to its contribution to the transmission of the infection to humans by sandflies. It is necessary to take measures, including treatment or eradication of infected dogs, to control canine leishmaniasis, which could be helpful to reduce human VL in this area.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21910882/