ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LEPTOSPIROSIS IN DOMICILED DOGS AND IN THEIR OWNERS IN VERACRUZ-BOCA DEL RÍO, MEXICO

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira that affects several species of wild and domestic vertebrates. The dog is the host of the bacteria and its relationship with humans favors the transmission of the agent; however, there are few studies about Leptospira epidemiology. By previous reports and characteristics of certain colonies it is assumed that in the Veracruz-Boca del Río conurbation area, Mexico, leptospirosis exists in dogs and their owners. The objective of this study was to identify the association between leptospirosis in domiciled dogs and their owners in the conurbation Veracruz-Boca del Río. Sanitary District No. VIII of the Ministry of Health (or SSA, its acronym in Spanish) provided a list of the areas inside the conurbation in which the largest number of domiciled dogs is concentrated. Samples of blood serum were collected from 216 dogs and their owners. The serological diagnosis of leptospirosis in dogs and humans was carried out by means of microscopic agglutination. We found 78 positive results and a general frequency of 36.10 % (IC 95%: 29.7 to 42.9). Nonstored food for canids and the consequent presence of rodents were the identified risk factors for leptospirosis in dogs. Two of the 30 participant owners in the study were positive (6.6 %, IC95%: 1.8 to 21.3) and no associated risk factors were identified. According to our results it is concluded that dogs and their owners are exposed to serovariants of L. interrogans in the Veracruz-Boca del Río conurbation. Besides, some risk factors contributing to this zoonosis are identifiable