Seroprevalence of Canine Leishmaniasis in Northern Cyprus.

OBJECTIVE: Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is an important public and veterinary health problem in Mediterranean Basin countries. In this study, we aimed to determine the seroprevalence of CanL in several provinces of Northern Cyprus.

METHODS: The seroprevalence of CanL was determined by the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test in dog sera. In total, 281 dogs were randomly selected from Nicosia (n=80), Trikomo (n=58), Famagusta (n=60), Morphou (n=30), and Kyrenia (n=53), consistent with a statistically representative number of the regional dog population.

RESULTS: Ten (3.55%) out of 281 dogs were found to be seropositive by the IFA test. CanL seropositivity differed between cities as follows: 1.72% (1/58) in Trikomo, 13.20% (7/53) in Kyrenia, 1.67% (1/60) in Famagusta, and 3.33% (1/30) in Morphou. No seropositive dog was found in Nicosia. The symptoms in 37 out of 281 dogs were generalized lymphadenopathy, weight loss, alopecia, exfoliative dermatitis, and epistaxis. Four out of 10 seropositive dogs showed at least one clinical symptom that could be related with CanL.

CONCLUSION: CanL seroprevalence was found to be 3.55% (10/281) in Northern Cyprus. Seropositive dogs, in particular, had lived in areas that exhibited rural as well as urban characteristics.