Estudio de prevalencia de Leishmaniasis canina como problema de salud pública en sector Vía a la Costa de Guayaquil – Ecuador.

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by the infection of hemophilic parasites of the genus Leishmania. Ecuador is an endemic country for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, nevertheless, it remains underdiagnosed. The role of canines in the transmission cycle, as host or reservoir, is not yet defined, the outlining of Canine Leishmaniasis prevalence is a fundamental basis for epidemiological studies. The main objective of this cross-sectional descriptive observational study is to determine the presence of Leishmania spp. in domestic canines of Via a la Costa in the city of Guayaquil - Ecuador. A sample of 87 canines was established, with a confidence level of 90 % and sampling error of 8.8 %, randomly selected, disregarding the presence of lesions suggestive of Leishmaniasis. The variables to be evaluated related to the individual: age (< 1 year 12, 1 - 3 years 28, 4 - 7 years 34, > 8 years 13), sex (38 females and 49 males), hair type (short 56, long 31), body condition (36 CC1 and CC2, 38 CC3, 13 CC4), presence of lesions suggestive of Leishmaniasis (23/87); and regarding vector exposure: area of residence, use of repellents (NO 87/87), permanence indoor/ outdoor (65/87 outdoors at night), peri domiciliary risk factors (76 % are exposed to at least one). By means of immunochromatography serological testing, 2 positive cases were detected, corresponding to a prevalence of 2.3 % (2/87).