Published in BMC Veterinary Research, the study by Paulo Henrique Araújo Soares, E. S. da Silva, V. S. Belo and colleagues examined 704 dogs from southeastern Brazil to investigate the prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) and identify factors associated with seropositivity. CVL is a major zoonotic disease in Brazil, where infected dogs act as key reservoirs for Leishmania parasites that may be transmitted to humans.
The researchers found a 6.7% prevalence of CVL within the sampled population. Importantly, all indicators of responsible companion animal guardianship (RCAG)—including proper shelter, supervision, and general dog care—were associated with lower infection risk. Dogs living outdoors or with free access to streets had significantly higher odds of infection.
Education level of guardians also showed a notable association: dogs whose guardians had no formal education or a university degree were more likely to be seropositive than those whose guardians had completed primary or secondary schooling. This pattern suggests that both lower awareness and misconceptions linked to higher education may influence preventive practices.
A particularly novel finding was that dogs acquired as puppies showed half the risk of developing the disease compared to dogs acquired at adulthood. This indicates that early-life integration into stable caregiving environments may offer protective benefits.
Spatial modeling revealed that predictor–disease associations varied across the urban landscape, yet the direction of effects was consistent: better care practices correlated with reduced CVL risk throughout all regions analyzed.
The authors conclude that all adult dogs, regardless of their age at acquisition, should undergo regular clinical evaluations and testing for CVL. Moreover, strengthening RCAG practices may offer meaningful contributions to public health efforts aimed at controlling this persistent zoonosis.
Source: Soares, P. H. A., da Silva, E. S., and 11 additional authors including V. S. Belo. (2022). Responsible companion animal guardianship is associated with canine visceral leishmaniasis: an analytical cross-sectional survey in an urban area of southeastern Brazil. BMC Veterinary Research. Published 11 April 2022.
