Prevalence of anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies in dogs from West of Iran.

The main aim of present study was to determine the sero-prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) among stray and owner shepherd dogs in Hamedan province, West of Iran. A cross-sectional study was performed in 2013 using enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). Blood samples (n = 380) were collected randomly from 170 stray and 210 owner shepherd dogs in different regions of Hamedan province. All of animals were asymptomatic. Antibodies to Leishmania infantum were found 3.95 % (0.95 CI: 2-5.9 %). The sero-prevalence rate of infection in stray dogs (6.47 %) was reported higher than owner shepherd dogs (1.9 %) (P = 0.023). There was significant differences among age groups (P = 0.003); unlike to different gender (P = 0.11). This is the first report of CVL in western Iran. Further comprehensive studies in infection rate and predominant Leishmania species in humans, sand flies and animals hosts (wild canines and rodents) is recommended in this region.