Prevalence of anti-Leptospira interrogans agglutinins in dogs from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2001 - 2002

Avaliou-se a prevalência de aglutininas anti-Leptospira interrogans nos cães recolhidos pelo Centro de Controle de Zoonoses nas nove regionais administrativas de Belo Horizonte, em diferentes épocas do ano. As áreas de prevalência de cães reagentes foram correlacionadas às áreas de saneamento ambiental, usando recursos georreferenciamento. As amostras de sangue dos 3417 cães, coletadas no período de setembro de 2001 a setembro de 2002, foram processadas pela técnica de soroaglutinação microscópica, encontrando-se 13,1% de positividade. As sorovariedades Canicola, Ballum, Pyrogenes e Icterohaemorrhagiae foram as mais prevalentes. As mais altas prevalências ocorreram nas regionais Centro-Sul (22,5%), Leste (19,1%) e Nordeste (13,2%). A menor prevalência foi observada na Regional Pampulha (8,2%). Os meses com maior percentual de cães reagentes foram dezembro/2001 e janeiro/2002, período de maior precipitação pluvial e temperaturas médias mais elevadas. As áreas de maior risco coincidiram com as regiões de vilas, favelas e bairros da periferia onde existia deficiência de saneamento ambiental.Prevalence of anti-Leptospira interrogans agglutinins in dogs captured by the Zoonosis Control Center, in nine administrative districts of Belo Horizonte city, throughout the year, was evaluated. The areas with positive prevalence were correlated to the areas of environmental sanitation, using sources of georeference. Blood samples from 3,417 dogs captured, were submitted to microscopic agglutination test from September 2001 to September 2002, showed 13.1% of seropositivity. The most reactive serovars were Canicola, Ballum, Pyrogenes and Icterohaemorrhagiae. High prevalences were observed at Center-Southern - 22.5%, Eastern - 19.1% and Northeastern - 13.2% districts. Pampulha district got 8.2% of prevalence, the lowest percentage of positive reactions. High number of dog infection was observed during December, 2001 and January, 2002, characterized as rainy period and high environmental temperature. Villages, slums and suburbs with environmental sanitation deficiency are areas of high risk