Force of infection and evolution of lesions of canine tegumentary leishmaniasis in northwestern Argentina.

MARCO JD, PADILLA AM, DIOSQUE P, FERNÁNDEZ MM, MALCHIODI EL, BASOMBRÍO MA.

MEMóRIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ.

Año: 2001 vol. 96 p. 649 - 652

0074-0276

A clinical-serological follow-up was carried out in a canine population inendemic foci of Leishmania braziliensis spread in northwestern Argentina. Eachdog was studied in at least two visits, 309+/-15 days (X+/-SE) apart. Someinitially healthy dogs (n=52) developed seroconversion or lesions. The clinicalevolution of the disease in dogs resembles in many aspects the human disease.Similarities include the long duration of most ulcers with occasional healing or appearance of new ones and the late appearance of erosive snout lesions in someanimals. Yearly incidence rates of 22.7% for seroconversion and of 13.5% fordisease were calculated as indicators of the force of infection by this parasite upon the canine population.