Abstract：
Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) has long been considered an endemic disease in the northern and northeastern regions of Brazil, while the southern region remains non-endemic. However, in recent years, several cases of CVL have been reported in southern states. The objective of this work was to determine the seroprevalence of CVL in dogs in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, through immunochromatographic tests (DPP®) and ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and its correlation with environmental characteristics through georeferencing. Blood samples from dogs (n = 1227) were collected in six mesoregions of the state and evaluated by the rapid test (DPP®). Positive samples were sent to Lacen (Central Public Health Laboratory) in Santa Catarina to be tested using ELISA. Information obtained from the epidemiological questionnaire was subjected to statistical analysis (Chi-square and Student\'s t-test; P < 0.05) to verify the correlation between serology and the analyzed variables. The locations (GPS) of the samples were used for georeferencing and creating heatmaps (Kernel Method). Four animals that died from CVL were necropsied and organ samples were collected for molecular analysis (PCR), immunohistochemistry, and histopathology (HE). Of the 1227 dogs analyzed, 22 (1.8%) were reactive in the DPP® and of these, 7 (0.6%) were also positive in the ELISA. A correlation (P < 0.01) was observed between positive serology and region, environment, access to the street, and clinical signs. The positive cases were concentrated in the eastern region of the state, in low-altitude areas with average rainfall and higher average temperatures, and in more populated areas close to forest fragments. PCR, HE, and immunohistochemistry, along with serology, have proven to be efficient for characterizing positive cases.
摘要：
犬内脏利什曼病（CVL）长期以来被认为是巴西北部和东北部地区的地方病，而南部地区仍然是非地方性的。然而,近年来,在南部各州报告了几例CVL病例。这项工作的目的是确定在圣卡塔琳娜州的狗中CVL的血清阳性率，巴西,通过免疫色谱测试（DPP®）和ELISA（酶联免疫吸附测定）及其与环境特征的相关性。从狗(n=1227)的血液样品在该状态的六个中区中收集并通过快速测试(DPP®)进行评估。阳性样品被送到圣卡塔琳娜州的Lacen（中央公共卫生实验室）进行ELISA检测。对流行病学调查问卷进行统计学分析(卡方检验和学生t检验;P<0.05),以验证血清学与分析变量之间的相关性。样品的位置(GPS)用于地理参考和创建热图(内核方法)。对死于CVL的四只动物进行尸检，并收集器官样本进行分子分析（PCR）。免疫组织化学，和组织病理学（HE）。在分析的1227只狗中，22(1.8%)在DPP®中有反应性，其中，7(0.6%)在ELISA中也为阳性。血清学阳性与地区之间存在相关性（P<0.01）。环境,进入街道，和临床症状。阳性病例集中在该州东部地区,在平均降雨量和平均温度较高的低海拔地区，在靠近森林碎片的人口稠密地区。PCR,他,和免疫组织化学，随着血清学，已被证明是有效的表征阳性病例。
