Resumen

LUGO, Dennis A et al. Seroprevalence of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis by rK39-ELISA in Endemic Foci in Venezuela. Rev. Fac. Cienc. Vet. [online]. 2015, vol.56, n.1, pp.042-051. ISSN 0258-6576.

This study discloses the seroprevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), a zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania infantum/chagasi. In this study, serological tests and clinical examinations were performed in 15,822 dogs from 13 federal entities endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in Venezuela, during the period 2004-2012. Serum samples were analysed by ELISA against the recombinant antigen rK39. Results demonstrated a prevalence of 14.8% of positive dogs for VL. Lara (19%) and Guárico (18%) states showed the highest seroprevalence of the disease. However, for the years 2010-2012, the prevalence of CVL for federal entities as Anzoátegui, Aragua, Carabobo, Cojedes, Nueva Esparta, and Sucre remained between 3% and 31%. The seropositive canines   (67.1% males and 32.9% females) average  4.8±2.9 years of age and 81% of the dogs found in these endemic areas did not show clinical signs characteristic of LVC, while clinical symptoms presented by the rest were skin ulceration (8.5%), alopecia (9.4%) and onychogryphosis (19.2%). This report demonstrates the geographical distribution (both rural and urban) and most striking clinical features of parasitized dogs in different endemic regions of the country, in order to  take strategic actions to strengthen the control and prevention programs of this public health problem.

Palabras clave : Seroepidemiologic studies; dogs; endemics; leishmaniasis; elisa; leishmaniasis; zoonoses.

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