Genotypic characterization of Leishmania spp. samples isolated from dogs of endemic area for canine visceral leishmaniasis in São Paulo State

• Grant number: 12/15899-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: April 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Helio Langoni
• Grantee: Helio Langoni
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Carla Janeiro Coiro ; Rodrigo Costa da Silva

Abstract

The canine visceral leishmaniasis (LCV), known as the American visceral leishmaniasis (LVA) or kala-azar is a anthropozoonosis caused by the flagellate protozoan of the genus Leishmania, with worldwide distribution. In Brazil, the agent responsible for the disease is Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi, transmitted by the bite of the female of the species Lutzomyia longipalpis , and the main reservoir is the domestic dog. It is a severe systemic disease, with chronic and slow course and complex diagnostic . Among the strategies for control of LVC are the canine serological survey, with the elimination of reagents dogs, and different techniques can be used to diagnose this disease. Many advances have occurred in recent years, but about the tests available for diagnosis, none had 100% sensitivity and specificity. In this context, this project aims to determine the prevalence of antibodies to L. chagasi in 164 dogs captured by the CCZ, Bauru, SP, epidemic area for LVC, to compare the techniques of indirect immunofluorescence, enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) and direct agglutination (DAT) to determine the parasite burden by PCR in real time from puncture of the popliteal lymph node and bone marrow of animals serologically positive, and identify potential genotypic variants of Leishmania spp. não- L.chagasi from the sequencing and genotyping in order to contribute to the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis, from the analysis obtained for the different tests as well as for assessment of symptoms presented by the animals. (AU)