Seroepidemiological study on canine visceral leishmaniasis in Meshkin-Shahr district, Ardabil province, northwest of Iran during 2006-2007

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Meshkin-Shahr district as endemic areas of human visceral leishmaniasis [HVL] for presenting control program of HVL to health authorities. A Seroepidemiological study to determine seroprevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis [CVL] among ownership dogs using direct agglutination tests [DAT] in 21 villages of Meshkin-Shahr district, Ardabil Province was carried out from June 2006 to August 2007. Three hundred and eighty four ownership dogs were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to compare seroprevalence values relative to gender, age and clinical signs. Of the 384 serum samples tested by DAT, 17.4% [95%C.I, 13.2%-20.8%] were positive [1320 and higher]. No statistical significant difference was found between male [16.5%] and female [20.2%] seroprevalence [P=0.416]. The highest seroprevalence rate [64.2%] was observed among the ownership dogs of three years age and above. Only 25.4% of the seropositive dogs had clinical signs and symptoms. The most clinical signs among symptomatic dogs were cachexia [75%] and alopecia [36.5%]. The majority of seropositive dogs [74.6%] lived in endemic areas of Meshkin-Shahr district were asymptomatic. It seems that all symptomatic and asymptomatic infected dogs are the most important risk factors for human infection in VL endemic areas