Distribuição espacial da leishmaniose visceral canina no município de Petrolina, estado de Pernambuco, Brasil

O objetivo deste estudo foi de avaliar o uso do sistema de informação geográfica para verificar a distribuição espacial da leishmaniose visceral canina, além de se determinar os aspectos clínicos, sorológicos e o status parasitológico dos cães com infecção natural por Leishmania infantum procedentes do município de Petrolina, Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. Para tanto, amostras do soro de 600 cães foram coletadas e analisadas através de um kit comercial para o teste ELISA. As coordenadas geográficas utilizadas no presente estudo referentes às áreas visitadas, foram obtidas com o auxilio de um sistema de posicionamento global manual, sendo posteriormente analisadas através dos softwares ArcGIS e ArqMap. Pode-se verificar que a prevalência da infecção canina foi de 19,20%, sendo a doença mais prevalente nas áreas urbanas do que nas áreas rurais. Contudo, vale ressaltar que apenas 37,40% (43/115) dos cães soropositivos tiveram sinais clínicos da doença, especificamente lesões de pele, linfadenopatia, perda de peso e onicogrifose. No que concerne aos resultados parasitológicos as formas amastigotas de L. infantum foram observadas em 39,53% na medula óssea, 16,27% nos linfonodos e 11,62% na pele. Sendo assim, pode-se concluir com os resultados do presente estudo que a leishmaniose visceral canina está urbanizada no município de Petrolina, e que as ações humanas refletem na endemicidade da doença no cão.The goal of this study was to use geographical information system to demonstrate the spatial distribution of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis and evaluate the clinical, serological and parasitological status of dogs with natural infection of L. infantum from Petrolina County, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Serum samples from 600 dogs were collected and were tested using commercial ELISA. The geographical coordinates of study area were acquired using a hand-held Global Position System apparatus and the geographical analysis was carried out using of ArcGIS and ArqMap software. The prevalence of canine infection was 19.20% and the disease was more prevalent in the urban than rural area. Although only 37.40% (43/115) of the seropositive dogs had clinical signs, particularly skin lesions, lymphadenopathy, weight loss and onychogryphosis. The parasitological results showed amastigotes forms of L. infantum in bone narrow, (39.53%), in lymph node (16.27%) and skin (11.62). In conclusion Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis is urbanized in Petrolina County, and human actions reflected in the endemicity of the disease canine.Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNP

Prevalence of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in dogs in an endemic area of Brazil

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

Histological changes and immunolabeling ofLeishmania infantum in kidneys and urinary bladder of dogs

The aim of this study was to assess histological alterations and perform immunolabeling of Leishmania infantum in the kidneys and urinary bladder of naturally infected dogs. Twenty-five urinary bladder and kidney samples of serologically positive animals (ELISA S7® Biogene and IFAT ≥ 1:40 - Biomanguinhos/Fiocruz) were analyzed by means of immunohistochemical and histological techniques. Cystitis was found in 44% (11/25) of the bladder samples and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in 92% (23/25) of the kidney samples. Immunolabeling of the parasite revealed that 32% (8/25) of the bladders and 8% (2/25) of the kidneys were positive. In conclusion, the immunohistochemical technique is a useful tool for detecting amastigote forms of L. infantum in organs of infected dogs. In addition, this was the first report of detection of amastigote forms ofL. infantum in the bladders of dogs

Detection of antibodies against Leishmania infantum in cats (Felis catus) from the State of Pernambuco, Brazil

Introduction: Little information is available concerning infection by Leishmania infantum in cats. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform a serological study in domestic cats. Methods: Serum samples (n=153) obtained from animals living in the Cities of Recife and Petrolina, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, were tested by ELISA/S7® (Biogene). Results: Anti-L. infantum antibodies were detected in 3.9% (6/153) of the cats. All seroreagent animals were from Petrolina. Conclusions: These results serve as an important alert, and future studies are needed to better understand the possible role of cats in the epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in this area

Comparação de nested-PCR com o diagnóstico direto na detecção de Ehrlichia canis e Anaplasma platys em cães

Os sinais clínicos das infecções por Ehrlichia canis e Anaplasma platys são similares, e o diagnóstico desses patógenos feito por esfregaços sanguíneos corados é difícil devido à sensibilidade e especificidade. Por outro lado, os diagnósticos moleculares são altamente sensíveis e específicos, e nested-PCRs têm sido otimizadas para o diagnóstico preciso desses patógenos em cães. Em um Hospital Veterinário Escola, amostras de sangue total com EDTA foram obtidas de 100 cães, e esfregaços foram feitos das amostras de sangue para busca dos parasitos intracelulares. Para cada amostra, DNA foi extraído e submetido à nPCR para detecção de E. canis e A. platys. Os resultados dos esfregaços sanguíneos mostraram que 9% dos animais foram positivos para E. canis e 21% para A. platys. Com relação à nPCR, 57 e 55% dos cães foram positivos para E. canis e A. platys, respectivamente. Quando comparados com a nPCR, os esfregaços sanguíneos corados revelaram resultados falso-negativos para E. canis e A. platys. Os resultados indicam que a nPCR é altamente sensível e específica para detecção de ambos os patógenos, e os diagnósticos moleculares podem ser mais úteis nos Hospitais Veterinários