Canine leishmaniasis in the Isle of Elba, Italy

The recent occurrence of infantile cases of visceral leishmaniasis in the Isle of Elba, Italy, has stimulated research on the prevalence of Leishmania infection in dogs. Out of 3,000 dogs present in the island 914 were examined through immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and 175 of them (19.1%) were found positive. 100% parasitological confirmation through isolation of parasite was obtained in a sample of 38 IFAT-positive dogs. The distribution of positive dogs in the island showed to be non-uniform, the frequencies of infection ranging from 2.5% to 39.6% according to communes. The causes of this distribution and its relationship with the human visceral leishmaniasis cases are discussed.