Geographical variation in clinical signs and prevalence of Leishmania sp. infection among dogs in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil
Claudio Carneiro de Freitas, JoséCélia Sousa Nunes-Pinheiro, DianaRafaelle Amaral de Abreu, Cyntia
Background: : : : Leishmaniosis are anthropozoonosis caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, representing a complex of diseases with significant diversity epidemiological and clinical spectrum and can affect 40% of the canine population. Infected dogs may be asymptomatic or may develop canine leishmaniasis (CL), a severe and progressive disease associated with the appearance of clinical signs. Serological tests are frequently used for screening of dogs, however, these techniques present limitations in terms of reproducibility and specificity. In this way, information on the geographical distribution and prevalence of CL is essential to the implementation of appropriate control measures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine geographical variations in clinical signs and prevalence of Leishmania sp infections from dogs in Fortaleza, Ceara state, Brazil. Material, Methods & Results: Bone marrow samples of 2829 domestic dogs were collected by puncture for parasitological diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis (CL), being considered positive by the presence of Leishmania sp. All dogs were examined and clinical signs were classified as score 0: no clinical signs, score 1: skin lesions, score 2: visceral signs and score 3: skin lesions + visceral signs. Kruskal-Wallis (p
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