Seroepidemiological study of canine <i>Leishmania infantum</i> and <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> infections in Shanghai, China, and analysis of risk factors

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Leishmania infantum and Toxoplasma gondii among household dogs in Shanghai (the most important industrial and commercial city in China), and to assess the possible risk factors associated with the infection. During 2014-2015, a total of 408 sera were collected from healthy household dogs and tested for L. infantum and T. gondii infection using commercial ELISA kits. The endemic characteristics according to gender, age group and breed were revealed by statistical descriptions and inference. The positive rates of L. infantum infection (24/408, 5.9%) were lower than those of T. gondii infection (37/408, 9.1%), and co-infection with both parasites was detected in seven dogs (7/408, 1.7%). Seropositivity for either parasite was more likely associated with age: the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection ranged from 1.3% (dogs≤1 year) -18.7% (dogs>6 years), whereas that of L. infantum ranged from 1.3% (dogs≤1 year) -9.9 % (dogs>6 years). Interestingly, the rates of exposure to both L. infantum and T. gondii were higher in males than in females. Relatively higher exposure rates for L. infantum and T. gondii were also observed in crossbred dogs compared with purebred dogs. However, neither gender nor breed is likely a determining factor for infection with these two parasites (P > 0.05). Identification of the risk factors that underlie these differences may help in the prevention of L. infantum and T. gondii infection in household dogs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of L. infantum and T. gondii infection in household dogs in Shanghai, which shows that these two important parasites are still prevalent in this region. Therefore, it is necessary to take integrated strategies for prevention and control of infection in animals, which could help to reduce human infection in the region. et al. Seroepidemiological study of canine Leishmania infantum and Toxoplasma gondii …

Leishmaniasis Diagnosis via Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing

“…A previous study found that, of 1,093 confirmed cases of visceral leishmaniasis in China, only eight cases were identified by microscopic examination (Fu et al, 2013 ). In order to avoid the high incidence of false negatives by microscopic examination due to a lack of personnel, many clinical laboratories in China diagnose leishmaniasis by detection of Leishmania antibodies or antigens (Gao et al, 2015 ; Jiang et al, 2016 ). In recent years, the detection of Leishmania -specific genes by polymerase chain reaction has been carried out in clinical laboratories (Zhao et al, 2015 ), but its use is far from universal.…”

Epidemiologic, Clinical and Immunological Consequences of Co-Infections during Canine Leishmaniosis

“…For CanL management in China, treatment of L. infantum -infected dogs and control of vectors are instituted [ 237 ]. In Shanghai, China, dog owners have been given a sulfa drug by governmental authorities for T. gondii control since 2002 [ 237 ].…”

“…For CanL management in China, treatment of L. infantum -infected dogs and control of vectors are instituted [ 237 ]. In Shanghai, China, dog owners have been given a sulfa drug by governmental authorities for T. gondii control since 2002 [ 237 ]. In Brazil, prevention methods for CanL include ectoparasiticides, vaccines, and dog culling, which has ethical controversy [ 229 , 238 ].…”