47 Introduction Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by flagellated protozoans of the genus Leishmania (Ready 2010). Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum is an endemic zoonosis in the Mediterranean basin, whose dogs are the main reservoir (Miranda et  al. 2008). L.  infantum is transmitted by blood-sucking phlebotomine sand flies (Miro et  al. 2012). Phlebotomus spp. (Syn. Lutzomyia spp.) is the primary vector, domestic dogs, rodents, sloths, and opossums play the role of reservoir hosts (Pigott et  al. 2014). L.  infantum infection in dogs is characterized by a chronic subclinical infection (Esteve et al. 2015). Some dogs may present with one or few clinical symptoms and others with multiple clinical manifestations, which are called polysymptomatic dogs (Saridomichelakis 2009). Clinical signs in dogs include generalized lymphadenomegaly, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, fever, diarrhea, lethargy, and progressive weight loss (Solano-Gallego et  al. 2012). Furthermore, the majority of dogs shows skin lesions. Common biochemical abnormalities include hyperproteinemia with hypergammaglobulinemia and hypoalbuminemia (Naucke and Lorentz 2012). Age seems to be a risk factor that influences the development of the disease. Clinical disease has two peaks, one in young dogs, between 2 and 4 -years old, then again in older dogs, older than 7 years of age (Sykes and Greene 2012). The most useful diagnostic approache for investigation of infection in sick and clinically healthy infected dogs is the detection of specific antibodies by several serological techniques and the demonstration of the DNA of the parasite in tissues by molecular techniques (Solano-Gallego et  al. 2009). Currently, the data regarding CanL in Kosovo is scarce. In this study, we aimed at determining the seroprevalence of CanL in stray dogs in the southwestern region of Kosovo. Materials and methods The study was conducted between April/September 2016 in the shelter ‘StrayCoCo’ located in Nagavc, Rahovec. Some municipalities in Kosovo have indeed established shelters for the control of stray 1University of Prishtina ‘Hasan Prishtina’, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, Kosovo. 2National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo, Kosovo. *Corresponding author at: University of Prishtina ‘Hasan Prishtina’, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, Bulevardi ‘Bill Clinton’, P.N. 10000 Prishtinë, Kosovo. E‑mail: kurtesh.sherifi@uni‑pr.edu. Keywords Canine leishmaniasis, ELISA, Leishmania infantum, Kosovo, Stray dogs. Summary Canine leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum is endemic illness in Mediterranean countries. The disease represents an important public health issue in Kosovo which reported several cases in previous years. In this study we performed a clinical and serological surveillance of canine leishmaniasis in dogs within the Southwestern Region of Kosovo. Blood samples were collected from stray dogs in four municipalities including Prizren, Gjakova, Rahovec and Deçan. A total of 125 samples were collected between April/September 2016, and antibodies of Leishmania infantum were detected by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA IgG). Out of 125  serum samples, 23 dogs (18.4%, 95%CI 12.6-26.1) tested positive for Leishmania infantum. Three of the 23 positive dogs (13%) showed typical clinical signs of Canine leishmaniasis including skin and ocular lesions, decreased appetite, lameness, diarrhea, lethargy and progressive weight loss. The present study confirmed that Leishmaniasis is endemic in the southwestern part of Kosovo and emphasized the need for establishing a stronger surveillance and control. Betim Xhekaj1, Mentor Alishani1, Agim Rexhepi1, Xhevat Jakupi2 and Kurtesh Sherifi1* Serological survey of Canine leishmaniasis in Southwestern Region of Kosovo Veterinaria Italiana 2020, 56 (1), 47-50. doi: 10.12834/VetIt.1345.7407.5 Accepted: 19.02.2018 | Available on line: 24.04.2020 48 Veterinaria Italiana 2020, 56 (1), 47-50. doi: 10.12834/VetIt.1345.7407.5 Canine leishmaniasis in Kosovo Xhekaj et al. Table I. Results of tested samples for CanL in stray dogs in four municipalities of Southwestern Kosovo, 2016. Municipality Prizren Gjakova Rahovec Deçan Total No. of samples 60 17 35 13 125 Age 1‑3 years 38 11 20 8 84 3‑5 years 22 6 15 5 41 ELISA positive 4 pos. (1‑3 y) 1 pos. (1‑3 y) 2 pos. (1‑3 y) 0 pos. (1‑3 y) 7 pos. (1‑3 y) 9 pos. (3‑5 y) 2 pos. (3‑5 y) 4 pos. (3‑5 y) 1 pos. (3‑5 y) 16 pos. (3‑5 y) ELISA negative 34 neg. (1‑3 y) 10 neg. (1‑3 y) 18 neg. (1‑3 y) 8 neg. (1‑3 y) 70 neg. (1‑3 y) 13 neg. (3‑5 y) 4 neg. (3‑5 y) 11 neg. (3‑5 y) 4 neg. (3‑5 y) 32 neg. (3‑5 y) Prevalence (%) 21.6% 17.6% 17.1% 7.6% 18.4% 95%CI 13.1‑33.6 6.1‑41.0 8.1‑32.6 1.3‑33.3 12.6‑26.1 until analysis. Age estimation and clinical visit of the dogs were performed at the moment of blood sampling, and then during their stay in the shelter. The dogs showing skin and ocular lesions, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy and lameness were identified as suspected cases for CanL. A serodiagnosis was conducted by detecting specific dogs through a catch-neuter-release project. Blood samples were collected from 125 stray dogs that were captured in four municipalities including Prizren, Gjakove, Rahovec and Decan. A total volume of 5  ml blood sample was collected from each dog by cephalic venipuncture and sera were separated at the laboratory and kept at -  20  °C Orahovac MONTENEGRO Peja Istog Decani 7.6% ALBANIA FYROM SERBIA 25 0 25 50 75 100 km Gjakova 17.6% Rahoveci 17.1% Prizren 21.6% Canine leishmaniasis 21.6% Prizren 17.6% Gjakova 17.1% Rahoveci 7.6% Decani Dragashi Klina Zubin Potok Leposavic MitrovicaZveçan Skenderaj Malisheva Suhareka Gllogovci Vushtria Podujeva Prishtina Kamenica Gjilani Novo Bërda Vitia Kaçaniku Shtërpca Ferizaj Lipljan Shtime Obilliç Fuskë Kosove Figure 1. Prevalence rate of CanL in the Southwestern Region of Kosovo. 49Veterinaria Italiana 2020, 56 (1), 47-50. doi: 10.12834/VetIt.1345.7407.5 Xhekaj et al. Canine leishmaniasis in Kosovo origin of study regions are showed in Table I and Figure 1, respectively. Discussion CanL is a major zoonotic disease, endemic in tropical and subtropical countries and fatal in humans and dogs. The first surveillance of CanL in Kosovo was done in 2008, when the percentage of CanL was 3.3% positive (Lazri et al. 2008). Although the limitations of the sample size, the results of this survey confirm the high prevalence of CanL in stray dogs of Kosovo. The infection rate of CanL was higher in municipalities in the southwestern region of Kosovo, bordering Albania. This area includes Prizren (21.6%), Gjakova (17.6%), Rahovec (17.1%) and Deçan (7.6%) (Alten 2014, unpublished data). The competent vectors of CanL Phlebotomus spp. were identified in the different municipalities of Kosovo, and found that they are especially high in abundance of Phlebotomus (Lar.) major s.l. that were found in southwestern part of the country. The present study highlighted the need for increasing control capacity of CanL in Kosovo. Reasonably, further studies are warranted in order to establish the prevalence of the diseases in other areas of Kosovo as well as a deep entomological survey. antibodies against L.  infantum using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA IgG), according to manufacturer instructions (Nova Tec Immundiagnostica GmbH, Germany), at the Institute of Veterinary and Agriculture in Kosovo. Results Antibodies of CanL were detected in 23/125 stray dogs representing the 18.4% (95% CI 12.6-26.1) of tested samples. The highest number of positive samples were detected in the Prizren municipality. After correction of sensitivity (95%) and specificity (96%) of the test, the highest estimated true prevalence was 21.6% (95%CI 13.1-33.6) in Prizren (13 out of 60 samples), followed by Gjakova 17.6% (95%CI 6.1-41.0) (3 out of 17 samples), Rahovec 17.1% (95%CI 8.1-32.6) (6  out of 35 samples) and Deçan 7.6% (95%CI 1.3-33.3) (1  out of 13 samples). In three out of 23 positive dogs (13%), clinical signs of CanL were observed. Suspicion of CanL was made through observation of dogs skin and ocular lesions, decreased appetite, lameness, diarrhea, lethargy and progressive weight loss. Dogs between 3 and 5 years represented the 70% of the CanL positive dogs (16/23). The remaining 30% (7/23 dogs) were dogs with age between 1 to 3 years old. Results and 50 Veterinaria Italiana 2020, 56 (1), 47-50. doi: 10.12834/VetIt.1345.7407.5 Canine leishmaniasis in Kosovo Xhekaj et al. Esteve L.O., Saza S.V., Hoseind S. & Solano-Gallegoa L. 2015. Histopathological findings and detection of toll-like receptor 2 in cutaneous lesions of canine leishmaniosis. Vet Parasitol, 209, 157-163. Lazri T., Duscher G., Edelhofer R., Bytyci B., Gjino P. & Joachim A. 2008. Infektionenmitarthropodenübertragenen Parasitenbei Hundenim Kosovo und in Albanienunterbesonderer Berücksichtigung der Leishmanieninfektionen. Wien Klin Wochenschr (In German), 120 (4), 54-58. 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