**Acknowledgements**

the presence of specific antibodies against *Leishmania* sp. with the ELISA method (Ingezim Leishmania, Ingenasa, 1.5.LSH.K.1). From total number of samples, in 10.59% of samples, the presence of specific antibodies against *Leishmania infantum* was found*.* It is important to highlight that not one of the examined dogs has ever left their dwelling place. In 18 dogs, positive serological findings for leishmaniasis were obtained. Three of the examined dogs had

The findings after the analysis of blood samples from three groups of dogs (170 samples in

Pet dogs 27 3 11.11 Total 170 18 10.59

In the group of hunting and military dogs, a seroprevalence for leishmaniasis was found to be 10.12%. In the group of dogs from asylum, seroprevalence was found to be 10.33%, and in the group of pet dogs, seroprevalence for leishmaniasis was 11.11%. The total seroprevalence for all 170 blood samples was 10.59% for leishmaniasis. Overall, there is actually no difference in seroprevalence for leishmaniasis between different groups of dogs. There is a similar seropre‐ valence in all three groups of dogs, unlike the seroprevalence to dirofilariosis. There is a constant presence of causative pathogen among the dog population in the northern part of Serbia. There is a reasonable doubt that leishmaniasis appears as a disease in the northern part of Serbia, in Vojvodina. The presence of vectors has been identified (*Phlebotomus papatasi* and *Laroussius tobbi*) (Vaselek, unpublished data), as well as the existing seroprevalence in dogs with and without clinical symptoms. All of this suggests that there is an existence of the reservoirs of infection. Leishmaniasis in humans has been identified so far only in people who have traveled to Mediterranean countries and not as an autochthonous infection. Due to climate changes, summer temperatures and conditions in the northern part of Serbia are more

In our history, there is evidence of leishmaniasis in humans and in dogs in Serbia, but over 60 years ago. The first autochthonous cases of visceral leishmaniasis were found in the southern part of Serbia (region around city of Nis) back in 1945. During the period of 1946–1949, there were 350 registered cases of human visceral leishmaniasis in Serbia, and some cases were even registered around city of Belgrade [45]. At that same time, about 2% of dogs in the region around city of Nis were found to have asymptomatic leishmaniasis, and dogs were identified as main reservoir of infection [45]. During the period from 1968 to 1969, rare cases of autoch‐ thonous visceral leishmaniasis were reported in the southern part of Serbia. At that time, the

Hunting and military dogs 79 8 10.12

**dogs Number of positive dogs Percentage of positive**

64 7 10.33

**dogs**

skin lesions that would not heal and bad skin condition in general.

**Total number of examined**

**Table 3.** Results of the analysis of blood samples from three groups of dogs for leishmaniasis

and more in favor of the life cycle of vectors—sand flies.

total) for leishmaniasis with ELISA test are shown in Table 3.

**Group of dogs**

120 An Overview of Tropical Diseases

Dogs from asylum for homeless dogs

> This study was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Develop‐ ment of the Republic of Serbia (grant TR31084).
