OBJECTIVES:

Evaluating the frequency of seropositivity to Leptospira sp. in dogs from a group of relocated families and risk factors for canine leptospirosis (local residents' perception and environmental factors).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The study was carried out in an urban resettlement, in which its inhabitants were transferred from an area of irregular occupation (Vila Dique in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul), and with favorable conditions to the spread of leptospirosis. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with interviews in 89 households and 142 samples of blood collected from dogs in the community for anti-Leptospira serology, from November 2011 to December 2012.

RESULTS:

About the analyzed samples, 18.3% (26 dogs) were seropositive, and the most frequent serovariety was Icterohaemorrhagiae which was present in 46% of the samples. In order to evaluate the hypothesis of association among seropositivity to Leptospira sp. and environmental perceptions, care for the environment and dogs, two logistic regression models were performed for correlated data. Only the variables "habit of hunting mice" and "access to the street" were significantly associated with seropositivity (p < 0.05) in the univariate model. The multivariate model did not show differences with these two variables.

CONCLUSION:

Through the interviews and blood tests of the dogs, it was possible to verify the environmental risks in the new resettlement, which contributed to the presence of canine leptospirosis in the community.

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