Visceral Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease endemic in several regions of Brazil, including the state of Mato Grosso. In Cuiabá, from January 2006 to December 2008, a research was performed in canine cases of infection with Leishmania sp. by serology and cytology, focusing on its geographical distribution, correlating to the occurrence of human visceral Leishmaniasis cases. From 150 dogs with suspected infection, 57 (38%) were serological or parasitologically positive. Seroprevalence was observed (P≤0.05) in districts with low per capita income, besides a larger number of canine cases in the East regional, but there was a diffuse distribution of the canine disease in the city of Cuiabá, in contrast to cases focused mainly on human in the northern municipality. This suggests risk throughout the municipality and further epidemiological studies should be carried out, as well as vector distribution, to promote better understanding of canine infection by Leishmania, in order to promote appropriate measures for disease control.
Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi; georeferencing; dog; Mato Grosso; Brazil
