ISSN 2756-3391
African Journal of Parasitological Research Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-005, September, 2014. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A preliminary survey of domestic animal visceral leishmaniasis and risk factors in North West Ethiopia
Ambaye Kenubih1*, Shimelis Dagnachew2, Gizat Almaw3, Tamerat Abebe4, Yegnasew Takele5, Asrat Hailu4 and Wessensegad Lemma6
1Department of Veterinary Microbiology Immunology and Public health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University. Debre Ziet, Ethiopia.2 Department of Para-Clinical studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Gondar University, Gondar, Ethiopia.3 NationalAnimal Health Diagnostic and Investigation center, Sebeta, Ethiopia.4 Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.5 Faculty of Medicine, Gondar University, Gondar, Ethiopia.6 Leishmania Research and Training Center, Gondar, Ethiopia. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 23 July, 2013.
Abstract
Screening of domestic animals was carried out from 2008 - 2009 to detect antibodies against L. donovani and to see the involvement of animal reservoirs. A total of 203 domestic animals were included in the study. Serum and biopsy samples were collected. Screening of serum samples by Modified Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) for canine reservoirs was used to screen serum samples at ≥ 1:320 cut off titer. Data were also collected using pre-tested questioners to evaluate the involvement of some potential risk factors. Antibody against L. donovani in domestic animals was detected and the overall proportion of occurrence was 30.5%. No Leishmania parasite was isolated from spleen, liver, skin snip and exudates, bone marrow and lymph node of dogs.
Key words: L. donovani, anti-leishmanial antibodies, Kala azar treatment risk factor, domestic animal, Libokemkem, Northwest Ethiopia.