Predictive factors for Leishmania infantum infection in dogs examined at a veterinary teaching hospital in Teresina, State of Piauí, Brazil

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: In Brazil, culling of seropositive dogs is one of the recommended strategies to control visceral leishmaniasis. Since infectiousness is correlated with clinical signs, control measures targeting symptomatic dogs could be more effective. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 1,410 dogs, predictive models were developed based on clinical signs and an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. RESULTS: The validated predictive model showed sensitivity and specificity of 86.5% and 70.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Predictive models could be used as tools to aid control programs in focusing on a smaller fraction of dogs contributing more to infection dissemination.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Gouvêa,Marcus Vinicius, Mendonça,Ivete Lopes, Cruz,Maria do Socorro Pires e, Costa,Carlos Henrique Nery, Braga,José Ueleres, Werneck,Guilherme Loureiro
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT 2016
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822016000100107
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