Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis in São Paulo, Brazil, the Most Populous City of South America: Isolation, Molecular Diagnosis, and Phylogenetic Inferences.

Background and Objectives:Canine visceral leishmaniasis affects dogs, the main urban reservoirs, which favor the transmission and expansion of this zoonotic disease in areas with high anthropization process and human density. We investigated the occurence ofLeishmania infatumbased in molecular diagnosis, and phylogenetic analysis of isolates obtained from dogs in metropolitan region of Sao Paulo. Methods:A total of 201 dogs were tested by parasitological and molecular diagnosis. Phylogenetic analysis based sequences from SSUrDNA and gGAPDH genes were performed. Results:The parasitological diagnosis revealed 5% (10/201) of positivity, and the sequences obtained from seven isolates were clustered with L.infantumin phylogentic analysis based on SSUrDNA and gGAPDH genes. A total of 24.9% (50/201) of dogs were positive in molecular diagnosis based on cathepsin L-likemarker. Interpretation and Conclusion:According to this study, it is necessary to implement a surveillance policy of visceral leishmaniasis, intensifying the actions of diagnosis, prevention, and control of this zoonosis.