ABSTRACT

Dogs are the most important reservoir of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). A male child who lives in Köseköy in Kocaeli was diagnosed with VL. Since this child had never been outside Kocaeli, serum samples of 65 stray dogs were analyzed for canine VL using the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and ELISA. Two dogs (3.07%) tested positive with both ELISA and IFAT. Leishmania amastigotes were observed in the lymph aspiration material from one of them. Growth was observed in NNN medium inoculated with lymph aspiration material from the other dog. This was the first study investigating canine VL prevalence in our city and plans were made for control of the disease.

Keywords: Visseral leishmaniasis, dog, diagnosis, Kocaeli, Turkey