A seroprevalence study of canine leishmaniasis was carried out in five prov
inces in northern Morocco: Taounate, Al Hoceima, Zouagha Moulay Yacoub, Che
fchaouen and Ouezzane. 55 localities have been concerned and a total of 1,0
13 dogs were screened, which represents almost 100% of the canine census. O
f the screened dogs: 87 showed antibody titer greater than or equal to 100
when tested by IFAT (seroprevalence of 8.6 %) and were distributed in 83 as
ymptomatics (without clinical symptoms) and four symptomatics (with one or
several symptoms of leishmaniasis) with important variations according to t
he locality. Relative frequency of asymptomatic dogs wets observed (8.2 %),
and the seroprevalence increased in middle altitude (500 m < altitude < 1,
000 m) and high altitude (greater than or equal to 1,000 m). Parasites isol
ated from dogs were identified as L. infantum MON-1 by isoenzyme profile an
d Rsal digestion.