A Surveillance Program on Canine Leishmaniasis in the Public Kennels of Emilia-Romagna Region, Northern Italy

Abstract

Since 2007, a canine leishmaniasis (CanL) surveillance program has been carried out in public kennels of the Emilia-Romagna region with the aim of providing health guarantees for dog adoptions. According to this program, monitoring activities were performed to verify the presence of sandflies and infected dogs, and a specific CanL risk class was assigned to each kennel, resulting in different control approaches (entomological and/or serological monitoring, clinical surveillance, therapeutic treatment of infected dogs, protections against vector bites). From 2007 to 2012, 20,931 dogs, 89.8% of which were identified by microchip and housed in 73 kennels, were examined using an indirect fluorescent antibody test. In all, 528 (2.8%) dogs tested positive, and 43.0% of these were asymptomatic. The authors used monitoring results, in particular serological tests performed on dogs at admittance to the kennel and annual controls of sentinel dogs, to estimate CanL risk in the whole region and to evaluate the efficacy of the preventive measures adopted. CanL seroprevalence in dogs tested at the admittance in kennels increased significantly from 2010 (1.0%; 29/2858) to 2012 (2.4%; 69/2841). In contrast, the number of seroconversions in sentinel dogs was stable in 2010 (1.2%; 11/896) and 2011 (1.6%; 13/825) and decreased in 2012 (0.9%; 8/850), suggesting the efficacy of the preventive measures applied.

Leishmania infantum, Dirofilaria spp. and other endoparasite infections in kennel dogs in central Italy

“…In this study, the seroprevalence of L. infantum (2.5%) was found to be higher in older animals and overall similar to that recently observed in kennels from other areas of central and northern Italy, showing low/medium infection levels, from 2.8% to 17.9% [ 3 , 39 , 40 ]. L. infantum is a protozoan species responsible for a very important zoonotic disease representing a serious veterinary and public health problem.…”

“…Among dog parasites of major zoonotic concern, Leishmania infantum is an important vector-borne parasite of the dog, which is considered the main domestic reservoir host for human infections [ 34 ]. Canine leishmaniosis is endemic in Italy and in other countries of the Mediterranean basin, with a widely variable prevalence [ 15 , 40 ].…”

Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics of Visceral Leishmaniasis Outbreak in a Northern Italian Nonendemic Area: A Retrospective Observational Study

“…Sand flies are mainly distributed in the hilly areas of the region, including the neighbouring area between Modena and Bologna provinces. P. perfiliewi represents the most abundant species [19] and it is considered a less efficient vector of L. infantum [17] in comparison to P. perniciosus . However, Baldelli et al [20] reported a canine leishmaniasis focus sustained by P. perfiliewi and its role in the VL transmission also cannot be excluded.…”

“…With regard to dogs, recognized as primary reservoir hosts of zoonotic VL, any important changes in the canine leishmaniasis epidemiology were observed. Results of a multiyear surveillance program carried out in public kennels of Emilia-Romagna showed an increase in canine leishmaniasis seroprevalence from 2010 (1%) to 2012 (2.4%) [19]. Afterwards a slight decrease was observed [21], with prevalence values lower than those observed in traditionally endemic regions of central and southern Italy [4].…”

Untitled

“…Available field data suggest that these insects are spreading northwards in Europe (northern Italy, Austria, Germany and Hungary) and their densities are increasing in some newly colonised areas . Owing to the wide distribution of susceptible dogs and the high host-vector contact rates, the main limitation to CanL spread is probably represented by the vectors (Santi et al, 2014). This reinforces the need for improving our knowledge of the vectorial competence of some sandfly species and of the distribution and abundance of known vectors.…”