Seroprevalence of Visceral Leishmaniosis in Stray Dogs of Hamedan, West of Iran in ۲۰۱۸

Introduction: Canine zoonotic visceral leishmaniosis (VL) caused by Leishmania infantum has been reported from ۲۰ out of ۳۱ provinces in Iran. In ۲۰۱۳, ۳.۹۵% of dogs in Hamedan Province showed anti-L. infantum antibodies by indirect ELISA method. In ۲۰۱۸, we reevaluated L. infantum infection among stray dogs in the same region. Methods: From June to November ۲۰۱۸, blood sera from ۱۸۰ stray dogs in Hamedan and the outskirts were examined for the presence of anti-L. infantum antibodies using the same ELISA kit employed in the previous study. Results: The ELISA detected anti-L. infantum antibodies in blood sera of ۱۹ dogs (۱۰.۵۶%, ۹۵% CI: ۶.۱۸–۱۴.۹۴). Infected dogs were significantly older than non-infected dogs (p=۰.۰۴۸) with an odds ratio of ۱.۰۲ (p=۰.۰۲) between age and infection, implying that the odds of infection increased ۲% with each month of age. Seropositivity rate was ۱۱.۲۱% in females and ۱۱.۱۱% in males with no significant difference between the two sexes (p=۱). The odds of infection in female dogs were ۱.۰۱ compared to that in males. Conclusion: The seroprevalence rate of L. infantum infection in stray dogs in this study showed an increase compared with ۲۰۱۳ (۱۰.۵۵% vs. ۳.۹۵%). An increase in antibodies against L. infantum in dogs of Hamedan and the presence of competent vectors for transmission of the parasite in the region makes the transmission of VL possible. Further PCR-based studies are required to confirm the infection in the infected dogs in sand flies.

کلیدواژه ها:

Leishmania infantum ، ELISA ، Epidemiology ، Canine ، Zoonosis ، One-Health