Seroprevalence survey on wild canine visceral Leishmaniasis in Sarab District (East Azerbaijan Province) Northwest of Iran during 2009-2010

This study was done to determine the prevalence of Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) in wild canines around the city of Sarab and the possible association between infection in wild canines and people during 2009-2010. In this study 10 serum samples from foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and two serum samples from wolves (Canis lupus) were prepared. Samples were examined in the parasitology laboratory of Tabriz Medical University using Elisa and IFA serological tests. Only one fox of 10 with IFA and ELISA tests was seropositive. The IFA titre was greater than or equal to 1:1280 and amount of light absorption in ELISA equal to 2.127 and percent of samples (S/P%)=138%. The fox had specific symptoms of disease including cutaneous ulcers, hair loss, Impotence, Onicocriptosis, local or general lymphadenopathy, Keratitis and Hepatosplenomegaly. In slides prepared from impression smear of liver and spleen Leishman body was observed and culture results were positive. In this study the two wolves were not seropositive and the result of culture was negative. Parasites isolated from seropositive fox were tested with specific primers of k-DNA using PCR and indicated 99% homology with complex Donovani (L.infantum, L.donovani, L. Chagasi).