title: Seroepidemiology of leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, and leishmaniosis among dogs in Ankara, Turkey.
abstract: Seroprevalence of five different Leptospira interrogans serovars, Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania infantum in stray dogs in Ankara was investigated. A total of 116 dog sera collected from apparently healthy stray dogs were tested for L. interrogans serovars by microscopic agglutination test (MAT), for T. gondii antibodies by Sabin-Feldman dye test (SFDT), and for L. infantum antibodies by indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Of the 116 dogs, 51 (43.96%) were seropositive for leptospirosis, 72 (62.06%) for T. gondii and 3 (2.58%) for L. infantum. No statistically significant difference was observed between male and female dogs in the seroprevalences of toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis (P>0.05), but statistically significant difference was observed among different age groups in the seroprevalences of toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis (P<0.05). Although the seroprevalence of L. infantum was low, asymptomatic animals should be considered as a reservoir for the spread of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Microbiology, 31040 Antakya-Hatay, Turkey. aslantas@mku.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ozkan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aslantaş
authors.forename: Vildan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Selçuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiliç
authors.forename: Cahit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Babür
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D004396:Coloring Agents; D008751:Methylene Blue