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Vilas-Boas DF, Nakasone EKN, Gonçalves AAM, Lair DF, de Oliveira DS, Pereira DFS, Silva GG, Conrado IDSS, Resende LA, Zaldívar MF, Mariano RMDS, Dutra WO, Chávez-Fumagalli MA, Galdino AS, Silveira-Lemos D, Giunchetti RC. Global Distribution of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis and the Role of the Dog in the Epidemiology of the Disease. Pathogens 2024; 13:455. [PMID: 38921753 PMCID: PMC11206782 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13060455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoa of the species Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum (syn = Leishmania chagasi) and Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani, which are transmitted by hematophagous insects of the genera Lutzomyia and Phlebotomus. The domestic dog (Canis familiaris) is considered the main urban reservoir of the parasite due to the high parasite load on its skin, serving as a source of infection for sandfly vectors and, consequently, perpetuating the disease in the urban environment. Some factors are considered important in the perpetuation and spread of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in urban areas, such as stray dogs, with their errant behavior, and houses that have backyards with trees, shade, and organic materials, creating an attractive environment for sandfly vectors. CVL is found in approximately 50 countries, with the number of infected dogs reaching millions. However, due to the difficulty of controlling and diagnosing the disease, the number of infected animals could be even greater. In the four continents endemic for CVL, there are reports of disease expansion in endemic countries such as Brazil, Italy, Morocco, and Tunisia, as well as in areas where CVL is not endemic, for example, Uruguay. Socio-environmental factors, such as migration, drought, deforestation, and global warming, have been pointed out as reasons for the expansion into areas where it had been absent. Thus, the objective of this review is to address (i) the distribution of CVL in endemic areas, (ii) the role of the dog in the visceral leishmaniasis epidemiology and the factors that influence dog infection and the spread of the disease, and (iii) the challenges faced in the control of CVL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Fernandes Vilas-Boas
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
| | - Eiji Kevin Nakasone Nakasone
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
| | - Ana Alice Maia Gonçalves
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
| | - Daniel Ferreira Lair
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
| | - Diana Souza de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
| | - Diogo Fonseca Soares Pereira
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
| | - Geralda Gabriele Silva
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
| | - Ingrid dos Santos Soares Conrado
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
| | - Lucilene Aparecida Resende
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
| | - Maykelin Fuentes Zaldívar
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
| | - Reysla Maria da Silveira Mariano
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
| | - Walderez Ornelas Dutra
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
| | - Miguel Angel Chávez-Fumagalli
- Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa 04000, Peru;
| | - Alexsandro Sobreira Galdino
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, Federal University of São João Del-Rei (UFSJ), Midwest Campus, Divinópolis 35501-296, MG, Brazil;
| | - Denise Silveira-Lemos
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
| | - Rodolfo Cordeiro Giunchetti
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; (D.F.V.-B.); (E.K.N.N.); (A.A.M.G.); (D.F.L.); (D.S.d.O.); (D.F.S.P.); (G.G.S.); (I.d.S.S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.F.Z.); (R.M.d.S.M.); (W.O.D.); (D.S.-L.)
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Hide M, Michel G, Legueult K, Pin R, Leonard S, Simon L, Bañuls AL, Delaunay P, Marty P, Pomares C. Asymptomatic Leishmania infantum infection in dogs and dog owners in an endemic area in southeast France. Parasite 2024; 31:16. [PMID: 38530209 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2024019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of asymptomatic leishmaniasis in dogs and their owners in the main endemic areas of France has not been studied to date. The objective of this study was to quantify asymptomatic Leishmania infantum infection in southeast France in healthy people and their dogs using molecular and serological screening techniques. We examined the presence of parasitic DNA using specific PCR targeting kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) and specific antibodies by serology (ELISA for dogs and Western blot for humans) among immunocompetent residents and their dogs in the Alpes-Maritimes. Results from 343 humans and 607 dogs were included. 46.9% (n = 161/343) of humans and 18.3% (n = 111/607) of dogs were PCR positive; 40.2% of humans (n = 138/343) and 9.9% of dogs (n = 60/607) were serology positive. Altogether, 66.2% of humans (n = 227) and 25.7% of dogs (n = 156) had positive serologies and/or positive PCR test results. Short-haired dogs were more frequently infected (71.8%, n = 112) than long-haired dogs (12.2%, n = 19) (p = 0.043). Dogs seemed to be more susceptible to asymptomatic infection according to their breed types (higher infection rates in scenthounds, gun dogs and herding dogs) (p = 0.04). The highest proportion of dogs and human asymptomatic infections was found in the Vence Region, corresponding to 28.2% (n = 20/71) of dogs and 70.5% (n = 31/44) of humans (4.5/100,000 people). In conclusion, the percentage of infections in asymptomatic humans is higher than in asymptomatic dogs in the studied endemic area. It is questionable whether asymptomatic infection in humans constitutes a risk factor for dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mallorie Hide
- MIVEGEC, Université de Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, 911 av Agropolis, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | - Gregory Michel
- Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), U1065, Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, 151 route Saint Antoine de Ginestière, BP 2 3194 06204, Nice, France
| | - Kevin Legueult
- Département de Santé Publique, UR2CA, Université Côte d'Azur, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, 151, route de Saint Antoine de Ginestière, CS 23079 06202, Nice, France
| | - Raphaelle Pin
- Laboratoire Vétérinaire Départemental, 105 route des Chappes, BP 107 06902, Sophia-Antipolis, France
| | - Susana Leonard
- MIVEGEC, Université de Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, 911 av Agropolis, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | - Loïc Simon
- Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), U1065, Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, 151 route Saint Antoine de Ginestière, BP 2 3194 06204, Nice, France - Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, CHU Nice, 151, route de Saint Antoine de Ginestière, CS 23079 06202, Nice, France
| | - Anne-Laure Bañuls
- MIVEGEC, Université de Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, 911 av Agropolis, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | - Pascal Delaunay
- Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, CHU Nice, 151, route de Saint Antoine de Ginestière, CS 23079 06202, Nice, France
| | - Pierre Marty
- Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), U1065, Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, 151 route Saint Antoine de Ginestière, BP 2 3194 06204, Nice, France - Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, CHU Nice, 151, route de Saint Antoine de Ginestière, CS 23079 06202, Nice, France
| | - Christelle Pomares
- Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), U1065, Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, 151 route Saint Antoine de Ginestière, BP 2 3194 06204, Nice, France - Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, CHU Nice, 151, route de Saint Antoine de Ginestière, CS 23079 06202, Nice, France
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Vaz TP, Quaresma PF, Rêgo FD, Souza CB, Fontes G, Gontijo CMF. Clinical and Laboratory Response of Domiciled Dogs with Visceral Leishmaniasis Treated with Miltefosine and Allopurinol. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:472. [PMID: 37888600 PMCID: PMC10610677 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8100472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) remains a significant disease worldwide. In Brazil, its treatment is performed using miltefosine, which has demonstrated promising outcomes in dogs. This study represents the first attempt to treat and monitor dogs with CVL in natural conditions over the course of one year. The dogs were divided into two groups: G1 received miltefosine and allopurinol for 28 days, while G2 received miltefosine for 28 days, followed by allopurinol for one year. The follow-up involved clinical, hematological, and biochemical evaluations, as well as the detection of Leishmania DNA in skin and bone marrow samples. By the end of the follow-up, dogs in G2 exhibited improved staging compared to their initial conditions, whereas those in G1 showed worsened staging. Leishmania DNA in skin and bone marrow decreased between 6 and 12 months after treatment. Our observations indicate that the treatment using miltefosine reduces the detection of the parasite in the skin and bone marrow for up to one year following its administration. The continuous use of allopurinol contributes to control of the disease in dogs. These findings provide valuable insights into the response of dogs treated in natural conditions, offering essential information for veterinarians and public health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talita Pereira Vaz
- René Rachou Institute (FIOCRUZ/MG), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, Belo Horizonte 30190-009, MG, Brazil; (T.P.V.); (F.D.R.); (C.B.S.)
| | - Patrícia Flávia Quaresma
- Campus Reitor João Davi Ferreira Lima, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Trindade, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil;
| | - Felipe Dutra Rêgo
- René Rachou Institute (FIOCRUZ/MG), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, Belo Horizonte 30190-009, MG, Brazil; (T.P.V.); (F.D.R.); (C.B.S.)
| | - Camila Binder Souza
- René Rachou Institute (FIOCRUZ/MG), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, Belo Horizonte 30190-009, MG, Brazil; (T.P.V.); (F.D.R.); (C.B.S.)
| | - Gilberto Fontes
- Campus Centro Oeste, Federal University of São João del Rei (UFSJ), Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, 400, Divinópolis 35501-296, MG, Brazil;
| | - Célia Maria Ferreira Gontijo
- René Rachou Institute (FIOCRUZ/MG), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, Belo Horizonte 30190-009, MG, Brazil; (T.P.V.); (F.D.R.); (C.B.S.)
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Marcolino Silva D, Passarella Teixeira AI, Sierra Romero GA. Socioeconomic Status of Guardians as a Risk Factor for Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis: A Cohort Study in an Endemic Area of the Federal District, Brazil. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2023; 108:328-334. [PMID: 36535251 PMCID: PMC9896338 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-1170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Current control measures of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), a chronic and fatal zoonosis with potential transmission to humans, are not efficient enough to reduce its spread. The search for improved control measures should include studies of risk factors for infection and illness. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for CVL in an endemic locality of the Federal District, Brazil, from June 2016 to December 2018. Biologic samples and data on dog characteristics, owner household characteristics, and dog care were collected. A combination of serological and molecular tests was used to identify infected animals. The 248 dogs screened for inclusion were predominantly asymptomatic/oligosymptomatic. The baseline prevalence of infection was 27.5%. One hundred six of 162 susceptible dogs were monitored for an average period of 10.7 months. The estimated CVL incidence was 1.91 cases/100 dog-months. The multivariate analysis using a proportional Cox model included the potential risk factors, with P ≤ 0.25 in the univariate analyses. Greater purchasing power (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06; P = 0.03) and paved yard (HR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.13-1.01; P = 0.05) remained in the final model as risk and protection factors, respectively. The use of repellent collars in dogs was associated moderately (P = 0.08) with protection against CVL. Our findings reflect the challenge of identifying strong interventions for reducing CVL incidence. Increased owner wealth had a counterintuitive effect on CVL, making the intervention scenario more complex for a zoonosis traditionally associated with poverty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Marcolino Silva
- Center for Tropical Medicine, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
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Detecting Leishmania in dogs: A hierarchical-modeling approach to investigate the performance of parasitological and qPCR-based diagnostic procedures. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0011011. [PMID: 36525465 PMCID: PMC9803295 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Domestic dogs are primary reservoir hosts of Leishmania infantum, the agent of visceral leishmaniasis. Detecting dog infections is central to epidemiological inference, disease prevention, and veterinary practice. Error-free diagnostic procedures, however, are lacking, and the performance of those available is difficult to measure in the absence of fail-safe "reference standards". Here, we illustrate how a hierarchical-modeling approach can be used to formally account for false-negative and false-positive results when investigating the process of Leishmania detection in dogs. METHODS/FINDINGS We studied 294 field-sampled dogs of unknown infection status from a Leishmania-endemic region. We ran 350 parasitological tests (bone-marrow microscopy and culture) and 1,016 qPCR assays (blood, bone-marrow, and eye-swab samples with amplifiable DNA). Using replicate test results and site-occupancy models, we estimated (a) clinical sensitivity for each diagnostic procedure and (b) clinical specificity for qPCRs; parasitological tests were assumed 100% specific. Initial modeling revealed qPCR specificity < 94%; we tracked the source of this unexpected result to some qPCR plates having subtle signs of possible contamination. Using multi-model inference, we formally accounted for suspected plate contamination and estimated qPCR sensitivity at 49-53% across sample types and dog clinical conditions; qPCR specificity was high (95-96%), but fell to 81-82% for assays run in plates with suspected contamination. The sensitivity of parasitological procedures was low (~12-13%), but increased to ~33% (with substantial uncertainty) for bone-marrow culture in seriously-diseased dogs. Leishmania-infection frequency estimates (~49-50% across clinical conditions) were lower than observed (~60%). CONCLUSIONS We provide statistical estimates of key performance parameters for five diagnostic procedures used to detect Leishmania in dogs. Low clinical sensitivies likely reflect the absence of Leishmania parasites/DNA in perhaps ~50-70% of samples drawn from infected dogs. Although qPCR performance was similar across sample types, non-invasive eye-swabs were overall less likely to contain amplifiable DNA. Finally, modeling was instrumental to discovering (and formally accounting for) possible qPCR-plate contamination; even with stringent negative/blank-control scoring, ~4-5% of positive qPCRs were most likely false-positives. This work shows, in sum, how hierarchical site-occupancy models can sharpen our understanding of the problem of diagnosing host infections with hard-to-detect pathogens including Leishmania.
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Baxarias M, Homedes J, Mateu C, Attipa C, Solano-Gallego L. Use of preventive measures and serological screening tools for Leishmania infantum infection in dogs from Europe. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:134. [PMID: 35534848 PMCID: PMC9088038 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05251-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There are several screening tools for detecting Leishmania infantum infection in dogs and various preventive measures to protect against it. Some studies have investigated them, but not many have described their current use. The aim of this study was to investigate which preventive measures and serological screening tools for L. infantum infection were employed from 2012 to 2018 in dogs from different endemic European countries. Methods A set of electronic datasheets was completed for each dog from several veterinary centres. Classification of preventive measures included: (1) repellents, (2) vaccines and (3) immunomodulators. Classification of serological tests included the: (1) direct agglutination test (DAT), (2) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), (3) indirect immunofluorescence (IFI), (4) rapid tests and (5) other assays. Dogs were also classified depending on their risk of exposure and living area. Results Information from 3762 dogs was gathered. Preventive measures were applied in 91.5% of dogs and the most frequently used were repellents (86.2%) followed by vaccines (39.8%) and Leisguard® (15.3%). The different types of repellents (collar and spot-on) were used similarly. A combination of a vaccine and repellents was preferred in the high-risk group while the low-risk preferred a combination of Leisguard® and a repellent (Chi-square test: X2 = 88.41, df = 10, P < 0.001). Furthermore, all preventive measures were similarly used through the years except for repellents, which were predicted to have a small increase of use each year. Regarding serological screening tools, the most used were rapid and ELISA tests. Rapid tests, ELISA tests and DAT were used similarly through the years, but a significant change was found in the use of IFI and other assays whose use decreased a little each year. Conclusions Repellents were the preferred measure, while vaccines and Leisguard® were second-line options. Some dogs were not treated by any measures, which highlights the need for dog owner education. Moreover, there seems to be a preference for rapid tests in the clinical setting to detect specific L. infantum antibodies while ELISA or IFI are less often employed. This underlines an increasing problem, as qualitative rapid tests have a variable diagnostic performance limiting the adequate diagnosis of seropositive dogs in endemic areas. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05251-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Baxarias
- Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | | | | | - Charalampos Attipa
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Laia Solano-Gallego
- Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
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