Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran; Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Microb Pathog. 2021 Dec;161(Pt A):105234. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105234. Epub 2021 Oct 13.
Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or kala-azar is an endemic zoonotic disease in Iran. Domestic dogs are the primary reservoir host and source of VL infection. The high-risk populations are children and immune-deficient adults.
Based on the lack of published reports about the VL in Sistan and Baluchestan province in the southeast of Iran, this study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of diseae in free-roaming dogs and children under 12 years old using indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test.
This cross-sectional study was performed between 2018 and 2020 in Zahedan city, Sistan, and Baluchestan province. Blood samples were taken from 400 children under 12 years old with a fever history accompanied by at least another specific clinical presentation. In the same period, blood samples were collected from 150 stray dogs. Demographic characteristics and clinical manifestations in both humans and dogs were recorded. The IFA test examined all blood samples for the detection of anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies.
Overall, the IFA test results were positive in 8 dogs (5.33%). Only two seropositive dogs (25%) showed obvious clinical symptoms. There was a significant correlation between the positive cases, clinical signs (P = 0.046), and age (P = 0.037) in infected dogs. None of the collected sera from 400 febrile children were positive.
According to the present finding, it seems that VL is not endemic in Zahedan city, Sistan, and Baluchestan province, but the domestic cycle of L. infantum has been established in this area. Further investigations would be needed to estimate the status of VL infection in wild canines as a secondary potential reservoir host. Furthermore, periodic monitoring of disease must not be neglected.
地中海内脏利什曼病（VL）或黑热病是伊朗流行的人畜共患病。家养狗是主要的储存宿主和 VL 感染源。高危人群是儿童和免疫功能低下的成年人。
由于伊朗东南部锡斯坦和俾路支省缺乏关于 VL 的发表报告，本研究旨在使用间接荧光抗体（IFA）试验评估自由放养狗和 12 岁以下儿童的疾病血清流行率。
这项横断面研究于 2018 年至 2020 年在锡斯坦和俾路支省的扎黑丹市进行。采集了 400 名有发热史并伴有至少另一种特定临床表现的 12 岁以下儿童的血液样本。同期，采集了 150 只流浪狗的血液样本。记录了人和狗的人口统计学特征和临床表现。IFA 试验检查了所有血液样本以检测抗利什曼原虫婴儿抗体。
总体而言，IFA 试验结果在 8 只狗（5.33%）中呈阳性。只有两只血清阳性的狗（25%）表现出明显的临床症状。在感染的狗中，阳性病例、临床症状（P=0.046）和年龄（P=0.037）之间存在显著相关性。从 400 名发热儿童采集的血清均为阴性。
根据目前的发现，VL 似乎不在扎黑丹市和锡斯坦和俾路支省流行，但 L. infantum 的家犬循环已在该地区建立。需要进一步调查来估计野生犬科动物作为二级潜在储存宿主的 VL 感染状况。此外，必须定期监测疾病。
