THE ROLE OF THE DOG IN THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIOSIS IN ENDEMIC AREAS OF BULGARIA

T. Kostova, I. Katerinova, P. Sabev, N. Lalkovski, R. Harizanov, N. K. Nedelchev

Abstract: Leishmaniosis is protozoal disease caused by vector-borne parasites from genus Leishmania which transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. In Bulgaria is reported Mediterranean type of visceral leishmaniosis. Causal pathogen is Leishmania donovani infantum, the source reservoir of which mainly are dogs /domestic and wild/. Vectors are bloodsucking sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus. The purpose of the present study is to investigate reservoir hosts and sandfly vectors cause leishmaniosis into endemic to our country region and assess the risk of maintaining and spreading of the invasion. Studies were realized in Petrich area (Southwest Bulgaria) - endemic for leishmaniosis region. We tested serologically (by ELISA) 92 blood samples from dogs and 13,04% of them were seropositive. Two of seropositive dogs were observed for clinical signs of leishmaniosis. One of them was positive by real-time PCR. In 9 catches were collected a total of 3357 number of insects, of which 280 (8,3%) are from the genus Phlebotomus. Phlebotomine sandflies were established in all nine points where the traps were set. In the region of Petrich there are all important factors for realization of leishmaniosis transmission in humans and animals. Domestic and stray dogs are the main reservoir of leishmaniosis in endemic for the disease regions.

Keywords: Leishmania; leishmaniosis; Phlebotomus; sandflies; seropositive dogs; vector-borne

Date published: 2017-03-15