Canine visceral leishmaniasis: validation of Real Time PCR for the parasitological diagnosis of the infection in non-invasive sample

• Grant number: 09/54533-4
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: March 01, 2010 - August 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal researcher: Vânia Lúcia Ribeiro da Matta
• Grantee: Vânia Lúcia Ribeiro da Matta
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Dog is the main domestic reservoir of Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi, playing a relevant role in the maintenance and dispersion of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), disease with a notable expansion in Brazil today. The canine infection is considered to be a risk factor for human VL and, here, the serum-positive dog is euthanized as a disease control measure. Nonetheless, serious critics have been made to the limited accuracy of the serological methods practiced in canine epidemiological surveys that compromises the evaluation of intervention programs, the identification of risk factors for Leishmania infection as well as the real estimation of prevalence/incidence of VL, especially in areas of L. braziliensis and Trypanosoma cruzi co-transmission. Attempts to validate parasitological tests, gold standard to determine the actual infection status, especially those with potential applicability in endemic areas and populational surveys, should be encouraged as they can minimize troubles concerning serological tests pointed above. In this way, the present study aims to investigate the performance of the real time polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Leishmania (L.) chagasi in conjunctival exfoliative cells of dogs from Araçatuba, area with an estimate seroprevalence of canine VL ranging from 12% to 42,2%, according with the investigated geographical area. It is highlighted that the validation protocol of the chosen parasitological method was designed to obtain maximum sensitivity and specificity to detect the parasite and to provide easy collection, transport and storage of the non invasive samples in order to supply a fast diagnostic tool with high performance to laboratories located in the transmission areas or to reference laboratories, both evolved in the periodic investigation of cases and control of VL in endemic areas. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ASCHAR, MARIANA; BRAGA DE OLIVEIRA, EVELINE TOZZI; LAURENTI, MARCIA DALASTRA; MARCONDES, MARY; TOLEZANO, JOSE EDUARDO; HIRAMOTO, ROBERTO MITSUYOSHI; CORBETT, CARLOS EDUARDO P.; RIBEIRO DA MATTA, VANIA LUCIA. Value of the oral swab for the molecular diagnosis of dogs in different stages of infection with Leishmania infantum. Veterinary Parasitology, v. 225, p. 108-113, JUL 30 2016. Web of Science Citations: 7.

LAURENTI, M. D.; DE SANTANA LEANDRO, JR., M. V.; TOMOKANE, T. Y.; DE LUCCA, H. R. L.; ASCHAR, M.; SOUZA, C. S. F.; SILVA, R. M.; MARCONDES, M.; DA MATTA, V. L. R. Comparative evaluation of the DPP (R) CVL rapid test for canine serodiagnosis in area of visceral leishmaniasis. Veterinary Parasitology, v. 205, n. 3-4, p. 444-450, OCT 15 2014. Web of Science Citations: 29.