Soroprevalência e fatores de risco para leishmaniose visceral canina em Patos, Paraíba, Brasil.

Abstract

Canine visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease that has the higher prevalence in the northeast region. Several epidemiological factors contribute to its expansion and to living with dogs is an important risk factor for increasing human cases. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis in dogs and to evaluating the risk factors associated with the disease in Patos, Paraiba, Brazil. A questionnaire was administered to owners and it was collected blood of 138 dogs to performing the ELISA recombinant S7. The prevalence was 7.2% and the risk factors associated with animal seropositivity were cohabiting with wild animals (odds ratio = 12.13, 95% CI = 1.64 to 89.92, p = 0.015) and frequency of cleaning the place where the animals remained (odds ratio = 6.07, 95% CI = 1.12 to 32.91, p = 0.037). These results are worrying and an indicator that visceral leishmaniasis control measures should be taken up by the local government.