title: Estimation of canine Leishmania infection prevalence in six cities of the Algerian littoral zone using a Bayesian approach.
abstract: A large-scale study on canine Leishmania infection (CanL) was conducted in six localities along a west-east transect in the Algerian littoral zone (Tlemcen, Mostaganem, Tipaza, Boumerdes, Bejaia, Jijel) and covering two sampling periods. In total 2,184 dogs were tested with an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and a direct agglutination test (DAT). Combined multiple-testing and several statistical methods were compared to estimate the CanL true prevalence and tests characteristics (sensitivity and specificity). The Bayesian full model showed the best fit and yielded prevalence estimates between 11% (Mostaganem, first period) and 38% (Bejaia, second period). Sensitivity of IFAT varied (in function of locality) between 86% and 88% while its specificity varied between 65% and 87%. DAT was less sensitive than IFAT but showed a higher specificity (between 80% and 95% in function of locality or/and season). A general increasing trend of the CanL prevalence was noted from west to east. A concordance between the present results and the incidence of human cases of visceral leishmaniasis was observed, where also a maximum was recorded for Bejaia. The results of the present study highlight the dangers when using IFAT as a gold standard.
authors: Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University Saad Dahlab, Blida, Algeria; Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerpen, Belgium; Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis applied to Veterinary Science (UREAR-ULg), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Boulevard de Colonster 20 B42, Sart-Tilman Liège, Belgium.
authors: Amel
authors: A
authors: Adel
authors: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors: Emmanuel
authors: E
authors: Abatih
authors: Université Catholique de Louvain, IRSS-FSP, Clos Chapelle aux Champs 30, Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors: Niko
authors: N
authors: Speybroeck
authors: University Hospital of Beni Messous, Algiers, Algeria.
authors: Abdelkrim
authors: A
authors: Soukehal
authors: OIE Sub-Regional Representation for North Africa, 17 Avenue d'Afrique, El Menzah V 2091, Tunis, Tunesia.
authors: Rachid
authors: R
authors: Bouguedour
authors: Direction des Services Vétérinaires, Ministère de l'Agriculture et du Développement Rural, 12 bd Colonel Amirouche, 16000 Algiers, Algeria.
authors: Karim
authors: K
authors: Boughalem
authors: Direction des Services Vétérinaires, Ministère de l'Agriculture et du Développement Rural, 12 bd Colonel Amirouche, 16000 Algiers, Algeria.
authors: Abdelmalek
authors: A
authors: Bouhbal
authors: Regional Veterinary Laboratory of Draa-Ben-Kheda, Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria.
authors: Mouloud
authors: M
authors: Djerbal
authors: Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis applied to Veterinary Science (UREAR-ULg), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Boulevard de Colonster 20 B42, Sart-Tilman Liège, Belgium.
authors: Claude
authors: C
authors: Saegerman
authors: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Berkvens
mesh_terms: D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D017753:Ecosystem; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005843:Geography; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008954:Models, Biological; D015995:Prevalence