Human visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) is an endimic disease in some parts of Islamic Republic of Iran and dogs have been determined as the main reservoir. In order to study of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in some parts of I.R. Iran, 613 canine serum samples were taken from 1996 to 2000. Sera were examined by two methods i.e. Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) and Enzym Linked Immunsorbent Assay (ELISA). The Sero Positive Rate (SPR) was diagnosed 41 (6.7%) and 63 (10.3%) by DAT and ELISA. Visceral leishmania infection in male was higher rather than from female. Also, in this survey 29 dogs that were suspectey to VL were anesthetized and autopsy was performed. 16 dogs (55 1%) were positive in parasitology and 22 dogs (75.8%) were seropositive (? 1:320) by DAT. All together, 12 dogs (4 1.3%) of the dogs had signs and symptoms. Leishmania infantum Lon 49 was isolated from five infected dogs and was characterized by is enzyme technique in London School of hygiene and Tropical Medicine and RAPD-RCR in Medical Faculty, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.
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