Serological survey of Leishmania infantum in apparently healthy dogs in different areas of Spain

BACKGROUND

Canine leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum is an endemic disease in Spain. The dog is considered the main reservoir, and the detection of specific serum antibodies against L. infantum antigen is the most used technique for diagnosing this infection. The LEISCAN LEISHMANIA ELISA test is a commercialized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection and measurement of canine anti-Leishmania serum antibodies.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess seroprevalence results of apparently healthy dogs in different areas of Spain using LEISCAN.

METHODS

Collection of sera from 5451 apparently healthy dogs was performed between 2020 and 2021 in different areas of Spain. Dogs were of adult age (≥12 months), were not previously diagnosed with clinical leishmaniosis or vaccinated against Leishmania and did not present clinical signs compatible with L. infantum infection. LEISCAN was performed following the manufacturer's protocol.

RESULTS

The overall seroprevalence was 5.5%. The highest seroprevalences were found in the Southeast of Spain: Comunidad Valenciana (14%) and Región de Murcia (14%), whereas the lowest seroprevalences were found in Northern Spain: Galicia (1%), Navarra (2%) and Castilla y León (2%) (p-value <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the seroprevalence for L. infantum in apparently healthy dogs in Spain varied from almost no infection to being over 10%.

Canine leishmaniasis in Balkan - A review of occurrence and epidemiology

Canine leishmaniasis is a parasitic zoonotic infection of dogs caused by the Leishmania spp. parasites. In Europe, canine leishmaniasis is among the most important vector-borne parasitic diseases of dogs, with majority of data originating from countries of southwestern Europe. With its scarce and outdated records, the Balkan region presents the "blank space" in the European map of canine leishmaniasis knowledge. Numerous records obtained during the past decade and a half indicate the emergence of autochthonous canine leishmaniasis in new settings all across Balkan, a significant increase in the numbers of infected dogs in previously endemic areas, and northward spread of the disease. As the majority of canine leishmaniasis data from Balkan countries are several decades old and generally written in native Balkan languages, hence not available to the broader area of scientists, comprehensive search of scientific literature published from 1934 to January 2021 was conducted in order to provide a better perspective to the past and current canine leishmaniasis situation in Balkan. This review provides exhaustive information on all leishmaniasis records in dogs, wild animals and cats, available from 10 countries of the Balkan region. It identifies dogs as the main disease reservoirs and highlights the importance of wild animals, and potentially cats, as disease reservoirs, which is of great public and veterinary health concern. Additionally, certain shortcomings in canine leishmaniasis research, management, surveillance and control were identified.

Systematic Review: Re-emergence of human leishmaniasis in the Balkans

OBJECTIVE

To provide an updated overview of the leishmaniasis epidemiology in the Balkans, as this region presents "blank space" on the map of leishmaniasis knowledge in Europe.

METHODS

Following the PRISMA guideline, literature on the presence and circulation of human leishmaniasis in Balkan countries was screened in PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Matica Srpska Library and the National Library of Serbia.

RESULTS

Sixty nine publications from 1919 until September 2020 were reviewed. Historical records indicate that leishmaniasis was previously present mainly in the southern parts of the Balkans, while newer data demonstrate its northward spread.

CONCLUSIONS

Human leishmaniasis is re-emerging in the Balkans and in some areas is already widespread.