Abstract
The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL) in periurban area focusing on transmissions that occurred on Distrito Federal (DF), and also, evaluate the prevalence of co-infections like dirofilariosis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease in dogs seroreagents to CLV. Initially the serum of the dogs inhabitants of the study area was tested according to the immunochromatographic reaction that contained two recombinant antigens - rK39 e rK26 - (DPP) to Leishmania sp. The animal plasma that reacted to the DPP test was confirmed for CVL with ELI-SA. Through confirmation of diagnose of VL by both tests, the samples were analyzed for possible co-infections through SNAP test (IDEXX 4Dx Plus). 240 dogs were tested, 132 (55%) of which obtained reacting results for DPP and for ELISA concomitantly, being diagnosed with CVL. Amongst those, 26 (20%) were positive for Ehrlichia canis or E. ewangii, meanwhile 9 (7%) presented positive results for Anaplasma phagocytophilum or A. platys, from those samples that showed to be positive, co-infection of anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and leishmaniasis was observed in 3 (2.3%) dogs. The high prevalence of CVL was observed in the periurban region of DF, highlighting the need for more precise diagnosis regarding co-infections that may possibly influence on the prognosis and clinical manifestation of these patients.
Key words:
co-infections; Leishmania; DPP; Elisa