Characterization of Leishmania infantum species in dogs from the urban area of Cuiabá, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Introduction: Visceral leishmaniasis presents urban behavior in some Brazilian cities, with domestic dogs as the main infection source. In Cuiabá, MT, canine visceral leishmaniasis was diagnosed and characterized as recommended by the Ministry of Health.

Methods: Biological samples from suspected canine carriers were analyzed by the isoenzyme electrophoresis technique.

[Canine tegumentar leishmaníasis in the town of Balneário Camboriú in the State of Santa Catarina].

Introduction: The increase in American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) cases in 2005 was due to an outbreak that occurred in the towns of Itapema and Balneário Camboriú. This study aimed to determine the possible presence of infection by Leishmania sp in domestic dogs living in an endemic focus of ATL in the town of Balneário Camboriú and verify the existence of a correlation between the humoral and cellular immune responses, the presence of suggestive lesions and positivity in direct parasitological exams.

Methods: A total of 275 dogs were evaluated, examined according to clinic aspects, the development of delayed hypersensitivity to Immunoleish antigens and serological responses to the indirect immunofluorescence reaction and immunoenzymatic assay.

[Prevalence of canine infection from endemic areas of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Paracambi District, Rio de Janeiro State, between 1992 and 1993].

In the district of Paracambi, State of Rio de Janeiro an epidemiological survey for American tegumentary leishmaniasis in canine population was carried out in endemic localities. A total of 179 dogs was registered and 138 (77.1%) examined for their clinical aspects, development of delayed hypersensitivity (DHS) with Imunoleish(R) antigen and serological responses by indirect immunofluorescent reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.