Prevalencia de Leishmaniasis canina (Canis lupus familiaris) mediante la tecnica de citologia y PCR, en la provincia de El Oro.

Abstract

The present study aimed to establish the prevalence and clinical forms of Leishmaniasis using the cytology-PCR technique in the province of El Oro. To this end, a cross-sectional descriptive observational study was conducted in five cantons, collecting data from 140 dogs with dermatological problems through dermatological campaigns. Variables such as age, sex, weight, type of housing, use of flea control, vaccinations, deworming, and characteristics of skin lesions were evaluated. The results showed that the lack of deworming is a significant risk factor for cutaneous Leishmaniasis (p = 0.037), while other factors such as type of housing and diet did not show significant associations. Polyuria was identified as a symptom associated with Leishmaniasis (p = 0.032), although other symptoms such as ulcers and alopecia did not show significant associations. Regarding the diagnosis, of the 32 cases analyzed, 30 were negative in both cytology and PCR, with moderate agreement between the two techniques (kappa = 0.467, p = 0.008), suggesting the usefulness of using both techniques complementarily to improve diagnostic accuracy. These findings highlight the importance of regular deworming to prevent Leishmaniasis and support the use of combined cytology and PCR diagnostics for more precise detection, in addition to underscoring the need for educational campaigns on managing the disease in canine populations.