Subject(s)
Food Safety , Health Communication/methods , Military Personnel , Adult , Afghan Campaign 2001- , Female , Food Preferences , Humans , Male , Risk , Surveys and Questionnaires , United States , Warfare , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is an infectious protozoan disease of people and domestic animals that occurs throughout temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions of the world. In the Mediterranean Basin, Canine Leishmaniasis (CanL) is endemic and might pose a risk to military working dogs (MWDs) stationed in the area. Concerns over translocating exposed MWDs into CanL nonendemic areas create the need to ascertain the impact of CanL in exposed MWDs. OBJECTIVE: To determine the magnitude of CanL in exposed MWDs. DESIGN: Serum/tissue examination of exposed MWDs using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence assay (IFAT) tests targeted to L. infantum; abstraction of MWD medical records for CanL-related signs. SETTING: Military bases within the Mediterranean basin. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-four MWDs located from a records search. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PCR results; IFAT titers; frequency and number of CanL-related clinical signs abstracted from medical records; case definitions. RESULTS: All PCR and IFAT tests were negative. No MWDs were classified as CanL cases or CanL probable cases. Although 16 MWDs met the CanL suspect case definition, no correlation was found between the length of time MWDs were exposed and the number of CanL-related clinical signs abstracted from medical records. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the potential for MWDs to translocate CanL is very low.
