Background: Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania infantum in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East; dogs are the main reservoirs of the disease. The aim of present study was to determine the frequency of canine visceral leishmaniasis in symptomatic dogs in Mashhad area. Methods: The blood samples were collected from fifty dogs with one or several clinical signs taken from the cephalic vein by syringe. The blood samples were transferred into plain tubes and centrifuged at 800×g for 8 min. The obtained serum was stored at −20 °C and examined using rapid immunochromatography test. Results: Among clinically suspected dogs, 26% (13/50) of sera samples were positive for L. infantum by rapid immunochromatographytest. A total of 50 sera, 29 male and 21 female symptomatic dogs were examined by rapid immunochromatography test. The frequency rate in male and female dogs was not significantly different. The seroprevalence rates in guard, owned and stray dogs were 25% (4/16), 31% (6/19) and 20% (3/15), respectively. The frequency rates for visceral leishmaniasis in small and large breeds of studied dogs were 31% (6/19) and 22% (7/31), respectively. Significant difference was not observed between age and breed of the studied dogs. The rapid immunochromatography test had low sensitivity (26%). Inclusion: The rapid immunochromatography test could be used to detect L.infantum in infected clinically dogs. It needs more investigation about the sensitivity and specificity of rapid immunochromatography test.

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