A study of visceral leishmaniasis in owned dogs with dermal lesions in Mashhad area, Khorasan Razavi province

Dog is the main reservoir host of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran. The present study was carried out to investigate visceral leishmaniasis in owned dogs with dermal lesions in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi province. Thirty- nine owned dogs with dermal lesions were selected. During study, four of dogs were euthanized. The dermal smears, blood and tissue samples were collected and examined using parasitological, serological and molecular methods. A total of ۳۹ examined dogs, leishman bodies were microscopically detected in ۳۳.۳۰% (۱۳/۳۹) of dermal smears. The sera samples were tested by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Antibody against Leishmania infantum was detected in ۲۶.۰۰% (۱۰/۳۹) dogs. According to semi-nested PCR, DNA of Leishmania infantum was detected in ۲.۵۰% (۱/۳۹) of blood samples and in ۷۵.۰۰ % (۳/۴) of different tissues of euthanized dogs. BLAST analysis of the sequenced samples indicated a ۹۹.۰۰% similarity with kDNA of Leishmania infantum. Based on the results, it is concluded that visceral leishmaniasis due to L. infantum is distributed among household dogs of this area and it needs more surveillance to control the disease by public health and veterinary authorities.

کلیدواژه ها:

Dog ، Iran ، Leishmania infantum ، Mashhad