Leishmania infantum infection serosurveillance in stray dogs inhabiting the Madrid community: 2007–2018

Background Leishmaniosis is an endemic zoonotic disease in the Mediterranean basin caused by Leishmania infantum and transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. While in dogs disease may be severe, leishmaniosis is also a public health concern as was shown in the largest outbreak of human leishmaniosis (...

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Published in:Parasites & vectors Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 96
Main Authors: Müller, Aurora, Montoya, Ana, Escacena, Cristina, de la Cruz, María, Junco, Ana, Iriso, Andrés, Marino, Eloy, Fúster, Fernando, Miró, Guadalupe
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London BioMed Central 14.04.2022
BioMed Central Ltd
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:
16th Symposium on Companion Vector-Borne Diseases (CVBD)
Agglutination tests
Alopecia
Animals
Antibodies
Baldness
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
blood sampling
Bull Terrier
clinical examination
Dermatitis
Diseases
Dog Diseases - diagnosis
Dog Diseases - epidemiology
Dogs
Entomology
epidemiological studies
Epidemiology
Europe
Feral dogs
Health aspects
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Infections
Infectious Diseases
Laboratories
Leishmania infantum
Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis - veterinary
Leishmaniasis, Visceral - epidemiology
Leishmaniasis, Visceral - veterinary
Mediterranean region
monitoring
Outbreaks
Parasitic diseases
Parasitology
Phlebotominae
Population studies
Psychodidae
Public health
purebreds
Risk analysis
Risk factors
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Serology
seroprevalence
Statistics
Subclinical infection
Surveillance
Tropical Medicine
Ulcers
Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science
Virology
Zoonoses
Zoonoses - epidemiology
Spain
Mediterranean Area
Mediterranean region
Europe
Outbreak of human leishmaniosis
Zoonosis
Canine leishmaniosis
Stray dogs
Risk factors
Seroprevalence
Leishmania infantum
ISSN:1756-3305, 1756-3305
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Background Leishmaniosis is an endemic zoonotic disease in the Mediterranean basin caused by Leishmania infantum and transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. While in dogs disease may be severe, leishmaniosis is also a public health concern as was shown in the largest outbreak of human leishmaniosis (HL) in Europe in 2009 occurring in the Madrid region. The aim of the present study was to assess the applicability of the Leishmaniosis Surveillance Program (LeishSP) established in Madrid in 1996 by examining trends in L. infantum seroprevalence and associated epidemiological risk factors based on data for the 2007–2018 period. Methods The study population consisted of 3225 stray dogs from 17 animal shelters collaborating with the LeishSP. Seroprevalences were recorded twice annually (April and November) from 2007 to 2018. In each yearly period, a minimum of 100 dogs were tested to detect dogs infected before and after the sandfly risk season in Madrid area. Each dog was subjected to the same protocol of blood sample collection and clinical examination to collect epidemiological data and clinical signs. Anti- Leishmania -specific IgG was determined by IFAT cut-off ≥ 1:100. Results Overall seroprevalence was 6.1% (198 positive dogs). Epidemiological data indicate a significantly higher seroprevalence in dogs > 4 years old, purebred dogs (Pit Bull and related breeds), and medium to large size dogs. There were no seroprevalence differences according to sex and/or season (April and November). In addition, no significant differences were observed according to whether dogs lived inside or outside the HL outbreak area. Remarkably, of 198 dogs testing positive for L. infantum , 64.6% had no clinical signs, indicating a high proportion of clinically healthy infected dogs that could be a potential source of infection. Conclusions Results indicate a stable seroprevalence of L. infantum infection after 2006 in stray dogs in Madrid but with a recent slightly increasing trend. These observations support the need to continue with the LeishSP implemented by sanitary authorities of the Madrid Community as an early warning strategy for human and animal leishmaniosis and to enable continued assessment of the epidemiological role of dogs with subclinical infection in this important zoonotic disease. Graphical Abstract
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ISSN:1756-3305
1756-3305
DOI:10.1186/s13071-022-05226-6