An alarming scientific study has brought to light a troubling reality for public health and veterinary care in Greece, placing the country at the top of the Mediterranean region for the prevalence of antibodies against Leishmania — the parasite responsible for kala-azar, or leishmaniasis.
The international research focused on clinically healthy and asymptomatic dogs and revealed a dramatic epidemiological gap between Greece and other endemic countries in southern Europe.
Greece at the center of the endemic threat
The study, conducted with the support of Ceva Salud Animal, analyzed samples from 548 dogs in Greece, Spain, Italy and France during the first four months of 2024.
The country-by-country results identified Greece as by far the most vulnerable link in the transmission chain:
- Greece: 19% seroprevalence (the highest rate in the study)
- Italy: 8.8%
- Spain: 3.2%
- France: 2.9%
With the overall average across all countries standing at 7.3%, Greece recorded infection rates more than three times higher than the study average and nearly six times higher than those in France and Spain.
Researchers described the difference as “significant,” effectively categorizing Greece as a high-risk zone.
The “invisible” danger of asymptomatic carriers
The study’s central finding concerns the critical role played by clinically healthy dogs.
Animals showing no visible symptoms — such as skin lesions, weight loss or nosebleeds — may still carry the parasite Leishmania infantum and act as hidden reservoirs, sustaining the transmission cycle through sandflies, the insects responsible for spreading the disease.
“The detection of antibodies in healthy animals is only the first step. Definitive confirmation of infection requires further PCR testing to identify the parasite’s DNA,” the researchers explained.
Prevention gaps raise concern
The study also placed special emphasis on preventive practices among dog owners.
Spain emerged as the “champion” of prevention, with 49% of participating dogs using sandfly-repellent products — a factor researchers say largely explains the country’s relatively low infection rates.
In Greece, despite the high endemic presence of the disease, there still appears to be significant room for improvement in the consistent use of preventive measures.
Experts now stress that repellents such as anti-parasitic collars and spot-on treatments should be used year-round, not only during the summer months.
Veterinarians seen as key line of defense
The authors of the report underlined the crucial role veterinarians must play in raising public awareness.
They recommend:
- Regular preventive screening, even for animals that appear completely healthy.
- Strict adherence to anti-parasitic treatment schedules.
- Greater public education about the close connection between animal health and public health under the “One Health” approach.
The need for vigilance is becoming increasingly urgent, researchers warn, as climate change extends the active season of insect vectors, turning leishmaniasis into a growing and continuous threat to the Mediterranean ecosystem.
