Canine Leishmaniosis and Human Visceral Leishmaniasis in Eastern Uzbekistan
Author Information
Author(s): Kovalenko Dmitriy A, Razakov Shavkat A, Ponirovsky Evgeny N, Warburg Alon, Nasyrova Rokhat M, Ponomareva Valentina I, Fatullaeva Aziza A, Nasereddin Abdelmajeed, Klement Eyal, Alam Mohammad Z, Schnur Lionel F, Jaffe Charles L, Schönian Gabriele, Baneth Gad
Primary Institution: Isaev Institute, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Hypothesis
Is there a relationship between canine leishmaniosis and human visceral leishmaniasis in the Namangan region of Uzbekistan?
Conclusion
The study confirms an active focus of visceral leishmaniasis in the Namangan region, with L. infantum being the causative agent in both dogs and humans.
Supporting Evidence
- 42 dogs showed clinical signs suggestive of leishmaniosis.
- 51 dogs were sero-positive for Leishmania.
- 40 dogs tested positive for Leishmania DNA using PCR.
- Leishmania strains from dogs were identified as L. infantum MON-1.
Takeaway
Dogs in Uzbekistan can get sick from a bug that also makes kids sick, and this study shows that many dogs are infected.
Methodology
Dogs were tested for Leishmania infection using serology, PCR, and culture methods.
Potential Biases
Potential underreporting of human cases due to inefficient reporting systems.
Limitations
The sensitivity of PCR was limited as it was primarily performed on blood samples, which are less sensitive than tissue samples.
Participant Demographics
The total population in the study area was 33,726, with 35.6% being children under 10 years old.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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