INTRODUCTION:
The northeast region of Brazil is endemic for zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection in dogs in Petrolina.
METHODS:
Blood samples were collected from dogs (n = 600), and bone-marrow biopsy was performed in animals with positive serological test results that presented clinical signs of ZVL. The serological analyses were performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (S7(r)Biogene).
RESULTS:
Of the 600 dogs tested, 19% (115/600) presented anti-L. infantum chagasi antibodies.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our data are important because canine infection is an important risk factor for the human disease.
Leishmaniasis; Dog; Serology; Geographic information system
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