Serological and etiological study of Leishmania spp. infections in dogs from Tapirapé indians settlements from Confresa municipality, MT

Abstract

The Indians of Tapirapé ethnicity have dogs living free in the villages and in most of the time are employed to assist them in hunting activities. Similarly, the indians of Karajá ethnicity also have dogs as Tapirapes, but not use them in hunting, because the main dietary source of ethnicity Karajá comes from fish. Thus, the sanitary conditions and food sources of canine populations in both ethnic groups have differences, allowing the contact with differents zoonotic agents.Nothing is known about the health conditions of these animals, which is particularly worrying, given the close interaction observed between human and canine populations in this medium. As is known, dogs may have an important role in the epidemiological chain of infections caused by various agents transmitted.In this sense, the project was proposed to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against Leishmania spp. in dogs living in Indigenous communities Tapirapé and Karajá, as well as the involvement of humans of the same ethnic groups, using the sorological techniques of ELISA and IFA. Animals revealed positive by serodiagnosis should be investigated in order to identify the agent involved by molecular methods.With the knowledge of the sanitary status of dogs for leishmaniasis, their occurrence and risk factors involved in transmission of this infection, it will be possible draw up a scheme of work in the health of these indigenous ethnicities, repassing on knowledge to the Indigenous Health Units, which have few scientific information to develop health programs.This project also aims to empower local residents to enable them in future to participate of health programs more adequately. (AU)