title: Serological survey of dogs from Egypt for antibodies to Leishmania species.
abstract: Leishmaniasis is an insect-transmitted parasitic disease with a worldwide distribution. Leishmania spp. infections cause a broad spectrum of clinical signs, ranging from skin lesions to fatal visceral disease. Dogs are a major reservoir host for visceral leishmaniasis in humans. While the disease is endemic in the Middle East and North Africa, little is known concerning canine Leishmania spp. infections in Egypt. Accordingly, blood samples were collected from 50 stray dogs in Giza, Egypt. Canine sera were tested for antibodies to visceralizing Leishmania spp. by commercial immunochromatographic strip assays based on recombinant antigen K39. Antibodies to Leishmania spp. were found in 5 of 50 (10%) of dogs tested from Egypt. Results from this study indicate that stray dogs are exposed to visceralizing Leishmania species in Egypt.
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, North Carolina 28216, USA.
authors.forename: Alexa C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rosypal
authors.forename: Shañae S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Epps
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: El Behairy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hilali
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan