SEROPREVALENCE OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND ITS ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN KARAT ZURIA DISTRICT, KONSO ZONE, SOUTH ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is one of a neglected tropical and subtropical protozoal disease endemic to 98 countries worldwide. In East Africa, life threatening human visceral leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania donovani and primarily affects the poor’s and isolated community due to malnutrition, lack of preventive measures and reduced access to health care facilities. The most important risk factors of the disease are environmental change, socio-economic problems, agricultural expansion and new reservoir hosts. The objective of this study is to determine seroprevalence and associated risk factors of domestic animals in visceral leishmaniasis in selected area of Karat Zuria District. A cross sectional study design was conducted in February-May, 2023. The direct agglutination test was used on the serum of domestic animals (cattle, dog and goat) for anti-leishmania antibodies in visceral leishmaniasis in Karat Zuria District. A total of 35.7% (137/384) of the animals were seropositive for anti-L. donovani IgG; goats accounted for 24.37% (49/201), cattle for 46.87% (60/128), and dogs for 50.9% (28/55). The detection of anti- L. donovani antibody in the blood of domestic animals indicate that they are frequently exposed to Leishmania infection and are likely to participate in the epidemiology of Leishmania infection, either as potential blood sources or possibly as parasite hosts. Further studies need to be carried out to investigate the role of domestic animals in Karat Zuria District.