[Factors associated the seropositivity for Babesia, Toxoplasma, Neospora e Leishmania in dogs attended at nine veterinary clinics in the municipality of Lavras, MG].

The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency and evaluate the infuence of age, sex and breed in seropositivity anti-Babesia canis, Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania (L.) chagasi and Neospora caninum, by means of the indirect immunofuorescence antibody test (IFAT), in serum samples collected from dogs attended in nine private veterinary clinics in municipality of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil, from August 2000 to April 2002. Of 300 dogs, 73.3% were seropositive (IFAT>or=1:80) to B. canis, and there was a signifcant increase (p<0.05) of the reagent in adult animals when compared with young. Only one dog (0.3%) from Belo Horizonte there was antibodies anti-L. (L.) chagasi (IFAT>or=1:40). T. gondii, of 218 dogs, 60.7% were positive (IFAT>or=1:16). In 228 serum samples, 3.1% were positive (IFAT>or=1:50) to N. caninum. Infections to B. canis and T. gondii occur as endemic form in dogs examined at private veterinary clinics in Lavras. Tere is no evidence that there are autochthonous cases of canine visceral leishmaniosis in Lavras. Besides this the infection by N. caninum is uncommon in dogs breed at the urbane zone of the municipality.