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EXPOSURE TO AND INFECTION BY LEISHMANIA INFANTUM AMONG DOMESTIC DOGS IN AN AREA OF THE CERRADO BIOME, MARANHAO, BRAZIL
Author
Affilliation
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil / Fundação oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil / Fundação oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Universidade do Estado do Maranhão. São Luis, MA, Brasil.
Abstract
Visceral Leishmaniasis is a serious public health problem and dogs are considered to be the main source of
infection in urban areas. In Brazil, this disease is present in all regions, but with high concentration of cases in the
Northeast, and the state of Maranh˜
ao is considered to be an endemic region. The aim of this study was to conduct
an epidemiological, spatial, molecular and serological survey on Leishmania infantum among domestic dogs in the
municipality of Belagua, ´ Maranhao. ˜ Blood samples were collected from dogs and questionnaires were applied to
their owners to obtain epidemiological data and risk factors relating to this zoonosis in the region. The coordinates of the dogs’ homes were obtained to produce a disease risk map. Serological diagnoses were made
using the indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IFAT) and the dual-path platform chromatographic immunoassay test (DPP®) (Bio-Manguinhos/FIOCRUZ, Brazil). A molecular investigation was undertaken using the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Georeferencing was performed using the global positioning system (GPS) and
cases of canine visceral leishmaniasis in the municipality were spatially represented and analyzed using QGIS
version 3.16.6 (QGIS Development Team, 2021). A total of 205 blood samples were collected, of which 122
(59.51%) were seroreactive for L. infantum through IFAT, while the DPP test showed 84 reactive samples
(40.97%). IFAT and DPP detected 16 positive animals simultaneously. One sample that was seroreactive through
IFAT was also positive through PCR. In the clinical evaluation, it was observed that among the seropositive dogs,
112 (91.80%) were symptomatic and 10 (8.20%) were asymptomatic. In the spatial analysis, the Kernel density
estimator enabled determination of the place at greatest risk of occurrence of the disease. The areas with the
highest concentrations of cases were in districts with large quantities of precarious housing and lack of basic
sanitation. This was the first report on the occurrence of L. infantum among dogs in the municipality of Belagua. ´
The results show that canine visceral leishmaniasis is well dispersed in this municipality, thus putting at risk the
human population.
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