title: Epidemiology of canine leishmaniasis in the Madrid region, Spain.
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 number R0 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.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amela
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Torcal
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pachón
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cañavate
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvar
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015994:Incidence; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan