Serological and Molecular Evaluation of Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis and Leishmaniosis in Concórdia Municipality, Santa Catarina, Brazil

To evaluate occurrences of ehrlichiosis, babesiosis and canine leishmaniasis in the municipality of Concórdia, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Blood was collected from 424 dogs that were attended at the Clinical Practice Center of the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina, Concordia campus, and also in private clinics in the city or in its rural zone. Animals were evaluated first by serological tests, and among them, 191 dogs were proportionally and randomly chosen to undergo the molecular test. The presence of antibodies against Leishmania infantum was investigated using the Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody Test and against Babesia canis and Ehrlichia canis using the Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, along with the Polymerase Chain Reaction for the three agents. The chi-square test at the significance level of 5% was used to compare the positive and negative animals in the population sampled. Among the samples evaluated in the serological tests, 43.45%, 43.98% and 14.66% were positive for ehrlichiosis, babesiosis and leishmaniasis, respectively. In the molecular test, only 4.19% of the samples were positive for babesiosis. Anti-E. canis, anti-B. canis and anti-L. infantum antibodies were present in the canine population studied. Due to the serological tests used for the use of IgG immunoglobulin, it is suggested that seropositive animals come into contact with the parasite previously and possibly have developed immunity against them. The polymerase chain reaction indicated that the positive animals had the genetic material of the parasite at that time, indicating that they were possibly at an early stage of the disease

Serological survey of Ehrlichia canis, Babesia canis and Leishmania infantum in a Brazilian canine population

Este estudo avaliou as ocorrências de babesiose, erliquiose e leishmaniose e a presença de coinfecção por essas doenças em cães do município de Concórdia, no oeste do estado de Santa Catarina (SC), Brasil. O sangue foi coletado de 424 cães atendidos no Centro de Prática Clínica do Instituto Federal de Santa Catarina, Concórdia, e também em clínicas da cidade e de sua zona rural. A presença de anticorpos contra Leishmania infantum foi investigada pela reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (IIF) e contra Babesia canis e Ehrlichia canisusando o ensaio imunoabsorvente ligado a enzima (ELISA). O teste do qui-quadrado, ao nível de significância de 5%, foi utilizado para comparar os animais positivos e negativos na população amostrada. Das 424 amostras avaliadas, 170 (40,09%) foram positivas para erliquiose, 178 (41,98%) foram positivas para babesiose e 59 (13,91%) foram positivas para leishmaniose. Houve diferenças estatísticas quanto à erliquiose em relação às variáveis ​​de área, acesso à rua e raça. Além disso, entre as amostras positivas, houve reações de co-infecção. A partir desses resultados, pode-se sugerir que essas três doenças estão presentes no município de Concórdia, SC