Prevalence of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in dogs in an endemic area of Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: The northeast region of Brazil is endemic for zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection in dogs in Petrolina. Methods: Blood samples were collected from dogs (n = 600), and bone-marrow biopsy was performed in animals with positive serological test results that presented clinical signs of ZVL. The serological analyses were performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (S7®Biogene). Results: Of the 600 dogs tested, 19% (115/600) presented anti-L. infantum chagasi antibodies. Conclusions: Our data are important because canine infection is an important risk factor for the human disease.