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Epidemiology of canine leishmaniasis in the Madrid region, Spain

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Abstract

A cross-sectional serological survey was carried out in the Madrid Autonomous Region (Comunidad de Madrid) in order to study and describe canine leishmaniasis epidemiology. The presence of leishmaniasis-specific antibodies was ascertained by immunofluorescence testing. 591 dogs were screened, revealing a prevalence of 5.25% (95% confidence interval 7.4–3.6), with no difference being encountered between rural and periurban areas. Age-specific prevalence exhibits a peak at 2–3 years and another at 7–8 years. Incidence or force of infection by occupation is as follows: pet dogs 0.059 (95% confidence interval 0.009–0.108) and working dogs 0.035 (95% confidence interval 0.012–0.057), there being a ratio between infection rates of 1.7, viz., indicating a 70% greater risk of infection among pet than among working dogs. The basic case reproduction numberR 0 is 1.06, suggesting that very intense control measures would not be needed for a drop in prevalence and incidence of infection to be achieved.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro National de Epidemiología, Institute de Salud Carlos HI, Madrid, Spain

    C. Amela & I. Pachón

  2. Centro de Salud Publica Area 5, Consejería de Salud, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain

    I. Mendez, J. M. Torcal & G. Medina

  3. Servicio de Parasitología, Centro National de Microbiología, Institute de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain

    C. Cañavate & J. Alvar

Authors
  1. C. Amela
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  2. I. Mendez
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  3. J. M. Torcal
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  4. G. Medina
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  5. I. Pachón
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  6. C. Cañavate
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  7. J. Alvar
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Amela, C., Mendez, I., Torcal, J.M. et al. Epidemiology of canine leishmaniasis in the Madrid region, Spain. Eur J Epidemiol 11, 157–161 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01719481

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