ORIGIN OF CANINE POPULATION OF BOTUCATU/SP AS A RISK PARAMETER OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS INTRODUCTION

Abstract

The São Paulo state´s laws for dogs transport require just a veterinarian health evaluation, with no official control and register by agencies on the entrance of imported animals thus, representing a risk for diseases introduction. The objective of this study was to describe the population of dogs, emphasizing its origin. A questionnaire was applied to 676 dog’s owners, representing 4% of vaccinated dogs during the 34^th vaccination rabies campaign in 2004. More than 10% of the dogs came from other cities, several of them with visceral leishmaniasis transmission. From those imported animals 74% have lived in Botucatu for more than one year. These findings highlight the importance of identification, register and population control programs of dogs in the state, allowing the establishment of mobility control of these animals, to guarantee information for the decision and definition of strategies to block the spread of diseases.