Detecção de anticorpos Anti-Leishmania infantum em cães procedentes de diferentes mesorregiões do estado de Pernambuco

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis with wide geographic distribution, with 95% concentrated in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nepal, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. Brazil is facing the process of expansion and urbanization of VL, with 43% of the population exposed to the risk of developing the disease, with cases of VL registered in all Brazilian regions, notably the Northeast region of the country. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis in different mesoregions of the Pernambuco state. A total of 500 canine sera from the laboratory of Parasitic Diseases of Domestic Animals/UFRPE were tested with the indirect ELISA test (SNAP Leishmania® Idexx). Data were compared with a survey of VL cases in humans and with a survey of the literature on sandfly fauna in the regions studied. Of the 500 sera tested, 49.4% (247/500) were reactive to the test. The frequency of positive test results for canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) among the different mesoregions ranged from 28 to 73%, with the highest prevalence in the Metropolitan Region of Recife (69.63%), followed by Sertão (38.24%) and Agreste (37.84%). Lutzomyia longipalpis has been identified in all mesoregions, however, it has not been located in some municipalities that present cases of the disease, which may lead to suspicion of other vectors being involved or taking into account other transmission routes. The data from seroreactive animals presented are compatible with the findings of human disease in the state, with a positive and significant correlation between the VL and CVL data. It is concluded that canine Visceral Leishmaniasis has been advancing in the state of Pernambuco. The data revealed a high prevalence of the disease in the different mesoregions of the State, suggesting the need for more effective control measures.