Survey on Leishmania infection in dogs in Wenxian County and Diebu County of Gansu Province in 2019 / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the Leishmania infection status in dogs in canine-derived visceral leishmaniasis endemic areas in Wenxian County and Diebu County of Gansu Province, to provide basis for formulating effective prevention and treatment measures for visceral leishmaniasis. Methods:In 2019, household survey method was used to collect dog basic information (such as gender and age) in villages with higher incidence of previous cases in Wenxian County and Diebu County of Gansu Province; and venous blood of dog was collected, PCR method was used to detect microloop DNA of Leishmania. Results:A total of 537 dogs were investigated, the positive rate of Leishmania detected by PCR was 41.15% (221/537); the positive rates of PCR detection were 64.63% (95/147) and 32.31% (126/390) in Wenxian County and Diebu County, respectively, and the positive rate in Wenxian County was higher than that in Diebu County (χ 2=46.044, P < 0.05). In 35 dogs with clinical symptoms of visceral leishmaniasis, the positive rate of PCR detection was 74.29% (26/35); the positive rates of PCR detection in symptomatically infected dogs were 84.62% (22/26) and 4/9 in Wenxian County and Diebu County, respectively, the positive rate in Wenxian County was higher than that in Diebu County ( P < 0.05). The positive rate of PCR detection was 38.84% (195/502) in 502 asymptomatic dogs; the positive rates of PCR detection were 60.33% (73/121) and 32.02% (122/381) in Wenxian County and Diebu County, respectively, the positive rate in Wenxian County was higher than that in Diebu County (χ 2=39.982, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The infection rates of Leishmania in dogs are high in Wenxian County and Diebu County of Gansu Province, the positive rate of PCR detection in asymptomatic dogs infected with Leishmania is high. This indicates that local residents and dogs are at high risk of infection with Leishmania. It is recommended that relevant departments should enhance residents' awareness of active protection and strengthen efforts to control the Leishmania infection of dogs.