Canine leishmaniasis in an endemic region, Northeastern Brazil: a comparative study with four groups of animals

Abstract In São Luís, Maranhão, northeastern Brazil, the notification of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases intensified in 1982, showing endemic and epidemic patterns. In this city, the Center for Zoonoses Control (CZC) was an organization in charge of the control and prevention of the disease. However, technical and political reasons have led to a significant decline in the periodicity of its activities. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the epidemiological scenario of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) and the prevalence of the disease in dogs after the cessation of the CZC activities, covering the period of 2007 to 2016. The seroprevalence of canine leishmaniasis was determined based on clinical and serological profiles. HVL cases were notified using data provided by the Municipal Health Department of São Luís. A seropositivity rate of 45.8% (p = 0.0001) was found among dogs, 54% (p = 0.374) of which were asymptomatic. As for human cases, there were 415 notifications, with an increase in the incidence of the zoonosis observed during the aforementioned period. Thus, it can be inferred that after the control and surveillance activities were curtailed, there was an increase in the number of seropositive animals in circulation, acting as reservoirs of infection for dogs and humans.

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Taeniasis and cysticercosis prevalence in a small village from Northeastern Brazil

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/s0004-282x2002000200006 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 60 (2A) ◽

pp. 219-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Irenio Gomes ◽

Marielza Veiga ◽

Emília Katiane Embiruçu ◽

Rosângela Rabelo ◽

Bernardo Mota ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Random Sampling ◽

Necessary Conditions ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

High Seroprevalence ◽

Endemic Region ◽

High Prevalence ◽

The World ◽

Epileptic Patients ◽

Stool Samples ◽

Antibody Capture

Although not considered as an endemic region, the Northeast of Brazil has the necessary conditions for the development of taeniasis-cysticercosis complex. In a previous paper, we demonstrated that Mulungu do Morro municipality, in the State of Bahia, has a high seroprevalence to cysticercosis in epileptic patients. OBJECTIVE: to determine the prevalence of taeniasis and positive cysticercosis serology in the population of Mulungu do Morro. METHOD: blood and stool samples were collected from a random sampling of the population, by family. The identification of antibodies against T. solium cysticerci was made by EITB and T. solium antigens were identified using a polyclonal antibody-capture ELISA. RESULTS: the cysticercosis seroprevalence was 1.6% (C.I. = 0.8 to 2.8%) and the taeniasis prevalence 4.5% (C.I. = 3.0 to 6.5%). Seropositivity to cysticercosis was higher among those who lived in a house of a person testing positive for coproantigen, p=0.017. CONCLUSION: our results demonstrate that the taeniasis-cysticercosis complex is endemic in Mulungu do Morro. We believe that all areas in the world with the same socio-economic and sanitary characteristics are likely to have high prevalence of this parasite.

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Comparative study of hepatitis C virus genotypes 1 and 3 in Salvador, Bahia, Northeastern Brazil

Journal of Hepatology ◽

10.1016/s0168-8278(02)80830-3 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 36 ◽

pp. 232

Author(s):

Liana Codes ◽

Luis Freitas ◽

Rogerio Santos-Jesus ◽

Ludmila Vitvitski ◽

Luciano Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis C Virus ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Virus Genotypes ◽

Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes

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Serological, molecular, and microscopic detection of Leishmania in cats (Felis catus) in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-296120180052 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 570-574 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Fernanda Morcatti Coura ◽

Stephanie Karoline Pereira Passos ◽

Marina de Oliveira França Pelegrino ◽

Fabiola de Oliveira Paes Leme ◽

Gustavo Fontes Paz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Infection ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Endemic Region ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Human Leishmaniasis ◽

Belo Horizonte

Abstract The role of cats in the epidemiological cycle of leishmaniasis remains unclear. To better understand the occurrence of leishmaniasis in cats, we studied the frequency of Leishmania in serum samples of 100 cats living in an endemic region for canine and human leishmaniasis by serological, parasitological, and molecular methods. Of the 100 cats, 54 were seropositive for Leishmania antibodies by immunofluorescence antibody test. None of the bone marrow aspirates collected from these cats tested positive for the parasite in culture or upon polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Biopsy samples of the ears also tested negative for Leishmania upon PCR analysis. These findings may indicate that the region is endemic for canine leishmaniasis and cats are infected by Leishmania; or that cross-reaction with antibodies against other parasites increases the frequency of seropositivity; or that cats respond to Leishmania infection by producing antibodies when few or no parasites are present in bone marrow and tissue samples. Overall, our results suggest that cats can be infected by Leishmania ; however, we failed to demonstrate feline parasitosis. These findings highlight the need to study leishmaniasis in cats, since sandflies feed on cats, these animals may act as a reservoir for the parasite.

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Canine leishmaniasis in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil: epidemiology, factors associated with seropositivity and spatial analysis

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612020027 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Anna Maria da Cruz Ferreira Evaristo ◽

Anaiá da Paixão Sevá ◽

Glauber Meneses Barboza de Oliveira ◽

Ivo Wesley Gomes da Silva ◽

Matheus Silva Ferreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Analysis ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Control Measures ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Effective Control ◽

Semiarid Region ◽

Leishmania Infection ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Factors Associated

Abstract This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence, factors associated with seropositivity to Leishmania infection in dogs and spatial analysis in six municipalities in the semiarid region of Pernambuco, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 462 dogs, 77 in each municipality, and used for serological analysis [dual path platform (DPP®) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)]. Clinical signs of dogs were evaluated and associated factors for Leishmania infection were analyzed using robust Poisson regression model. A seroprevalence of 42.8% (198/462, IC: 95% = 38.6%-47.6%) was detected in dogs that tested positive in both tests, ranging from 29.8% to 55.8%, with higher prevalence in the municipality of Cabrobó (55.8%; P = 0.006). About 67% (132/198) of the seropositive dogs showed one or more clinical signs suggestive of canine leishmaniasis (CanL), such as lymphadenomegaly, skin lesions and conjunctivitis, which were associated with seropositivity. High seroprevalence levels were identified in urban and rural areas in all the municipalities, and the buffer for sand flies around cases covered almost these entire areas. Spatial analysis revealed a significant cluster, showing a relative risk of 1.88 in the urban area of Cabrobó. The higher density of seropositive dogs in urban areas indicates the need effective control measures against CanL to prevent the emergence of canine and human diseases.

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Preventing Zoonotic Canine Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Brazil: Pet Attachment and Adoption of Community Leishmania Prevention

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0251 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 87 (5) ◽

pp. 822-831 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Kevin J. Esch ◽

Paulo Arruda ◽

Lorena Morais ◽

Christine A. Petersen ◽

Annette O'Connor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Pet Attachment

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Serological and molecular diagnostic tests for canine visceral leishmaniasis in Brazilian endemic area: one out of five seronegative dogs are infected

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268817001443 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 145 (12) ◽

pp. 2436-2444 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

E. G. LOPES ◽

A. P. SEVÁ ◽

F. FERREIRA ◽

C. M. NUNES ◽

L. B. KEID ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lymph Node ◽

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Rapid Test ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Molecular Diagnostic ◽

Endemic Region ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Endemic Areas ◽

The Impact ◽

Immunoenzymatic Assay

SUMMARYEuthanasia of infected dogs is one of the measures adopted in Brazil to control visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in endemic areas. To detect infected dogs, animals are screened with the rapid test DPP® Visceral Canine Leishmaniasis for detection of antibodies against K26/K39 fusion antigens of amastigotes (DPP). DPP-positives are confirmed with an immunoenzymatic assay probing soluble antigens of promastigotes (ELISA), while DPP-negatives are considered free of infection. Here, 975 dogs from an endemic region were surveyed by using DPP, ELISA and real-time PCR (qPCR) for the diagnosis of VL. When DPP-negative dogs were tested by qPCR applied in blood and lymph node aspirates, 174/887 (19·6%) were positive in at least one sample. In a second sampling using 115 cases, the DPP-negative dogs were tested by qPCR in blood, lymph node and conjunctival swab samples, and 36/79 (45·6%) were positive in at least one sample. Low-to-moderate pairwise agreement was observed between all possible pair of tests. In conclusion, the official diagnosis of VL in dogs in Brazilian endemic areas failed to accuse an expressive number of infected animals and the impact of the low accuracy of serological tests in the success of euthanasia-based measure for VL control need to be assessed.

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Seroprevalence and spatial distribution of canine leishmaniasis in an endemic region in Brazil: how has the situation changed after 10 years?

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ◽

10.1590/0037-8682-0087-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 51 (5) ◽

pp. 680-682

Author(s):

Talita Nayara Bezerra Lins ◽

Islanne Barbosa de Souza ◽

Guilherme Mota Maciel do Rêgo Barros ◽

Cléber Vinícius Brito dos Santos ◽

Rômulo Pessoa e Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Endemic Region

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Aspects hydrogeologiques compares des zones arides du bassin mediterraneen et du NE du Bresil

BSGF - Earth Sciences Bulletin ◽

10.2113/gssgfbull.s6-vii.7.1009 ◽

1957 ◽

Vol S6-VII (7) ◽

pp. 1009-1014

Author(s):

Etienne Stretta ◽

P. Taltasse

Keyword(s):

Comparative Study ◽

Mediterranean Basin ◽

Sedimentary Basins ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Arid Zones ◽

Bassin Méditerranéen ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Hydrologic Conditions ◽

The Mediterranean Basin

Abstract A comparative study of the arid zones of the Mediterranean basin and northeastern Brazil shows how the hydrologic conditions of a region are more closely related to the structure of sedimentary basins than to rainfall.

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