Comparison between splenic and lymph node aspirations as sampling methods for the parasitological detection of Leishmania chagasi infection in dogs.
The sensitivities of spleen and lymph node cultures for the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis were compared in 64 anti-Leishmania antibody positive dogs from an endemic area in Brazil. The sensitivity of spleen cultures for Leishmania detection was 97.9%; in lymph node cultures it was 25%. Positive spleen culture was more frequent (p = 0.048, Fisher's exact probability test) in symptomatic (28 out of 33 animals) than in asymptomatic animals (19 out of 31 animals). These results support the use of spleen instead of lymph node aspiration as the choice method for the parasitological diagnosis of the infection.
Barrouin-Melo
Stella Maria
SM
Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz-Fiocruz, ru Valdemar Falcão 121,40295-001 Salvador, BA, Brasil. sbarrouin@cpqgm.fiocruz.br
Larangeira
Daniela Farias
DF
Trigo
Joelma
J
Aguiar
Paulo Henrique Palis
PH
dos-Santos
Washington Luís Conrado
WL
Pontes-de-Carvalho
Lain
L
D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001938:Brazil; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology*