title: Diagnosis of Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi infection in dogs and the relationship with environmental and sanitary aspects in the municipality of Palmas, State of Tocantins, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to identify the presence of Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi infection in dogs in the City of Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil, using the PCR technique to list the hot spots of infected dogs in the city and associate their occurrence to significant environmental changes at capture sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  DNA was extracted from blood of dogs, and the PCR were performed with primers RV1/RV2. After screening the population studied, the regions of the city that had the highest occurrence of canine infection were detected. These sites were visited, and ecological parameters denoting anthropogenic disturbance were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some important features were listed in the regions visited, such as low urbanization, lack of public collection of sewage, limited garbage collection, vacant lots with tall vegetation, decaying organic matter, and, most importantly, the occurrence of stray dogs and poultry in homes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The methodology for screening the population was very efficient, especially in evaluating a large number of individuals in a short time, with a high degree of automation. The results indicate an association between the observed parameters and the occurrence of infection in dogs. The model presented in the city is ideal for studies of disease progression and expansion and for the evaluation of control measures adopted for canine VL.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, TO.
authors.forename: Julio Gomes
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bigeli
authors.forename: Waldesse Piragé de
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Natália Melquie Monteiro
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Teles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004777:Environment; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000235:genetics*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012307:Risk Factors; D012499:Sanitation
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan