Epidemiology of Canine Leishmaniasis in the Madrid Region, Spain

• Published in: European journal of epidemiology Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 157 - 161
• Main Authors: Amela, C., Mendez, I., Torcal, J. M., Medina, G., Pachón, I., Cañavate, C., Alvar, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Kluwer Academic Publishers 01-04-1995; Springer
• Subjects: Age Factors; Age groups; Animal protozoal diseases; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Antibodies; Antibodies, Protozoan - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Canines; Confidence Intervals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease Susceptibility; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - immunology; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dogs; Epidemiology; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Incidence; Infections; Infectious diseases; Leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis - epidemiology; Leishmaniasis - immunology; Leishmaniasis - veterinary; Male; Medical sciences; Parasitic diseases; Parasitism; Pets; Phlebotomy; Prevalence; Protozoal diseases; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Spain - epidemiology; Europe; Spain; Fissipedia; Carnivora; Protozoal disease; Prevalence; Serology; Parasitosis; Leishmaniasis; Epidemiology; Incidence; Infection; Vertebrata; Reproduction; Mammalia; Animal; Dog; Age
• ISSN: 0393-2990; 0392-2990; 1573-7284
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01719481

A cross-sectional serological survey was carried out in the Madrid Autonomous Region (Comunidad de Madrid) in order to study and describe canine leishmaniasis epidemiology. The presence of leishmaniasis-specific antibodies was ascertained by immunofluorescence testing. 591 dogs were screened, revealing a prevalence of 5.25% (95% confidence interval 7.4-3.6), with no difference being encountered between rural and periurban areas. Age-specific prevalence exhibits a peak at 2-3 years and another at 7-8 years. Incidence or force of infection by occupation is as follows: pet dogs 0.059 (95% confidence interval 0.009-0.108) and working dogs 0.035 (95% confidence interval 0.012-0.057), there being a ratio between infection rates of 1.7, viz., indicating a 70% greater risk of infection among pet than among working dogs. The basic case reproduction number R0is 1.06, suggesting that very intense control measures would not be needed for a drop in prevalence and incidence of infection to be achieved.