title: Serological investigation of Leishmania infantum, Dirofilaria immitis and Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs from southern Portugal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leishmaniosis, dirofilariosis and angiostrongylosis are parasitic diseases of established importance in dogs worldwide. The aim of the present report was to determine all together levels of infection with or exposure to Leishmania infantum, Dirofilaria immitis and Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs from the Algarve region, in southern Portugal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum samples were obtained from a total of 170 apparently healthy dogs. Antibodies to L. infantum were detected by the direct agglutination test; and antigens of D. immitis and of A. vasorum by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an immunochromatography test, respectively. Antibodies to L. infantum were found in 18.2% (31/170) of dogs, while D. immitis antigen was detected in 9.4% (16/170). None of 120 dogs tested out of the 170 under investigation had evidence of infection with A. vasorum. D. immitis infection was more prevalent in dogs aged 84-204 months than in those younger than 12 months. Three dogs were positive to both L. infantum and D. immitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dogs living in southern Portugal are at risk of leishmaniosis and dirofilariosis. This scenario should make the veterinary community, local dog owners and also tourists from non-endemic countries coming on vacation with their pets aware of the need of effective prophylactic measures, in order to protect animals and public health.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal. carlamaia@ihmt.unl.pt.|Global Health and Tropical Medicine, IHMT-UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal. carlamaia@ihmt.unl.pt.|Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias (ULHT), Lisboa, Portugal. carlamaia@ihmt.unl.pt.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.affiliation: Clínica Veterinária Porto Seguro, Rua Patrão Joaquim Casaca, Edifício Majuca, 8700-507, Olhão, Portugal. cvetps@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coimbra
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal. claudia.pgramos@sapo.pt.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal. jcristovao@ihmt.unl.pt.
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cristóvão
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal. lcardoso@utad.pt.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal. lcampino@ihmt.unl.pt.|Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal. lcampino@ihmt.unl.pt.
authors.forename: Lenea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campino
mesh_terms: D000801:Angiostrongylus; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D018314:Leishmania infantum; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan