Detection of canine visceral leishmaniasis by conjunctival swab PCR

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Vanessa Figueredo Pereira, Julia Cristina Benassi, Wilma Aparecida Starke-Buzetti, Diogo Tiago Silva, Helena Lage Ferreira, Lara Borges Keid, Rodrigo Martins Soares, Vera Letticie de Azevedo Ruiz, Trícia Maria Ferreira de Sousa Oliveira
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2016
• Subjects: Canine visceral leishmaniasis; Conjunctival swab; Epidemiological survey; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0191-2015; https://doaj.org/article/adbe1644f45e4ba1bdb2ff6f7f762d90

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Conjunctival swab PCR was evaluated as a tool to diagnose visceral leishmaniasis in dogs. METHODS: Conjunctival swab PCR was compared to indirect immunofluorescence antibody test and blood PCR. RESULTS: Indirect immunofluorescence was significantly correlated with conjunctival swab PCR (p < 0.05), but not with blood PCR (p > 0.05). In addition, conjunctival swab PCR was significantly associated with presence of clinical symptoms (p < 0.05), whereas blood PCR was associated with absence of clinical symptoms (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that conjunctival swab PCR is useful in epidemiological surveys of canine visceral leishmaniasis.