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Objective: Listeriosis causes abortion, septicemia and meningoencephalitis in humans and animals. Infected dogs are important in public health as they can spread Listeria monocytogenes strains via their faeces or urine. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of listeriosis in dogs in Konya Province. Method: A total of 135 blood serum samples were collected from dogs from the municipality kennels (n= 106) and also from veterinary clinics (n= 9) and the Dog Research Unit (n= 20) of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University. Samples were examined by Micro Standard Tube Agglutination Test (mSAT) and ELISA. The statistical differences between the groups were determined by the Mc Nemar Test and Fisher Exact x2 Test. Results: Out of 135 serum samples tested, 31 (23%) and 21 (15.5%) were found to be positive for listeriosis by mSAT and ELISA, respectively. Fourteen serum samples which were positive by mSAT were negative with ELISA, while 114 samples (84.5%) were negative by ELISA. The frequencies of listeriosis in municipality kennels, the veterinary clinics and dog research unit of the Veterinary Faculty were 24.5%. 11.1% and 20%, respectively by mSAT and 19.8%, 0% and 0% by ELISA, respectively. According to ELISA results, the listeriosis frequency was found higher in dogs from the municipality kennels than in animals from the veterinary clinics or in dogs of the research unit of veterinary Faculty. Conclusions: The present study shows that the seropositivity to L. monocytogenes in stray dogs from Konya is high and it is of concern for the veterinary and human public health. |
