INTRODUCTION: The northeast region of Brazil is endemic for zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection in dogs in Petrolina.METHODS: Blood samples were collected from dogs (n = 600), and bone-marrow biopsy was performed in animals with positive serological test results that presented clinical signs of ZVL. The serological analyses were performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (S7(r)Biogene).RESULTS: Of the 600 dogs tested, 19% (115/600) presented anti-L. infantum chagasi antibodies.CONCLUSIONS: Our data are important because canine infection is an important risk factor for the human disease.

Introduction: Little information is available concerning infection by Leishmania infantum in cats. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform a serological study in domestic cats. Methods: Serum samples (n=153) obtained from animals living in the Cities of Recife and Petrolina, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, were tested by ELISA/S7® (Biogene). Results: Anti-L. infantum antibodies were detected in 3.9% (6/153) of the cats. All seroreagent animals were from Petrolina. Conclusions: These results serve as an important alert, and future studies are needed to better understand the possible role of cats in the epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in this area.

Objetivou-se neste estudo avaliar as alterações histológicas e realizar a imunomarcação de Leishmania infantum em rins e bexiga de cães naturalmente infectados. Vinte e cinco amostras de bexiga e rins de animais sorologicamente (ELISA S7® Biogene and IFAT ≥ 1:40 - Biomanguinhos/Fiocruz) positivas foram analisadas histologicamente e por meio da técnica de imuno-histoquímica. Os resultados revelaram cistite em 44% (11/25) das amostras de bexiga e glomerulonefrite membranoproliferativa em 92% (23/25) das amostras de rins. A imunomarcação do parasito revelou 32% (8/25) e 8% (2/25) de positividade em bexiga e rins, respectivamente. Conclui-se que a técnica de imunohistoquímica é uma útil ferramenta para detecção de formas amastigotas deL. infantum em órgãos de cães infectados. Além disso, o presente trabalho reporta a primeira descrição de formas amastigotas deL. infantum em bexiga de cães.

The aim of this study was to assess histological alterations and perform immunolabeling of Leishmania infantum in the kidneys and urinary bladder of naturally infected dogs. Twenty-five urinary bladder and kidney samples of serologically positive animals (ELISA S7® Biogene and IFAT ≥ 1:40 - Biomanguinhos/Fiocruz) were analyzed by means of immunohistochemical and histological techniques. Cystitis was found in 44% (11/25) of the bladder samples and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in 92% (23/25) of the kidney samples. Immunolabeling of the parasite revealed that 32% (8/25) of the bladders and 8% (2/25) of the kidneys were positive. In conclusion, the immunohistochemical technique is a useful tool for detecting amastigote forms of L. infantum in organs of infected dogs. In addition, this was the first report of detection of amastigote forms ofL. infantum in the bladders of dogs.