Outbreak of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Barra Mansa, State of Rio de Janeiro

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Cintia Xavier de Mello, Fabiano Borges Figueiredo, Artur Augusto Velho Mendes Júnior, Marina Carvalho Furtado, Luciana Freitas Campos de Miranda, Maria de Fátima Madeira
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2014
• Subjects: Barra Mansa; Canine survey; Canine visceral leishmaniasis; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Barra; Mansa
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0042-2014; https://doaj.org/article/04afc5b0cdad40fa96238af7841cd9b2

Introduction In Brazil, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has spread to various regions. This study reports canine cases of VL in Barra Mansa, where human VL cases were recently reported. Methods Using the human index case, a canine survey was performed by dual-path platform immunochromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Seropositive animals were euthanized. Cultures were collected to detect Leishmania parasites. Results Serological tests detected 141 canine VL cases, and Leishmania chagasi were isolated from 82.2% animals. Conclusions Leishmania chagasi is in circulation in Barra Mansa. This study broadens information on the parasite's distribution in the State of Rio de Janeiro.