title: Comparison between splenic and lymph node aspirations as sampling methods for the parasitological detection of Leishmania chagasi infection in dogs.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz-Fiocruz, ru Valdemar Falcão 121,40295-001 Salvador, BA, Brasil. sbarrouin@cpqgm.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: Stella Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Barrouin-Melo
authors.forename: Daniela Farias
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Larangeira
authors.forename: Joelma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trigo
authors.forename: Paulo Henrique Palis
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: Washington Luís Conrado
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: dos-Santos
authors.forename: Lain
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pontes-de-Carvalho
mesh_terms: 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*