Presence of anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies in slaughter horses in Brazil

The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies using an indirect immunofluorescence technique in the serum of equidae slaughtered in two slaughterhouses registered with the Federal Inspection Service. Titers greater than 40 were considered reagents. Blood samples were collected from 398 animals of both sexes, with different ages, and coming from six Brazilian states, of which 46.0% (183/398) were reactive, indicating that these animals were exposed to the leishmaniasis agent that is widely distributed in Brazil.