title: Predictive factors for Leishmania infantum infection in dogs examined at a veterinary teaching hospital in Teresina, State of Piauí, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Brazil, culling of seropositive dogs is one of the recommended strategies to control visceral leishmaniasis. Since infectiousness is correlated with clinical signs, control measures targeting symptomatic dogs could be more effective.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out among 1,410 dogs, predictive models were developed based on clinical signs and an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The validated predictive model showed sensitivity and specificity of 86.5% and 70.0%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Predictive models could be used as tools to aid control programs in focusing on a smaller fraction of dogs contributing more to infection dissemination.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcus Vinicius
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Gouvêa
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Sanidade Animal, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivete Lopes
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria do Socorro Pires E
authors.initials: Mdo S
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Doenças Tropicais Nathan Portella, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Henrique Nery
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Ueleres
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Loureiro
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Werneck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan