Bats as Leishmania spp. reservoir in visceral Leishmanisis endemic area

• Grant number: 13/04367-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Caris Maroni Nunes
• Grantee: Luís Henrique Camargo Costa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMVA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a disease with increasing incidence in Brazil in many endemic areas, despite preventive measures used for its control. Because of deforestation, the movement of bats to the urban and peri-urban areas has grown. They seek shelter and food, which can be also found in the urban area. These flying mammals are important pollinators and are essential for the environmental balance. On the other hand, they can also transmit diseases to humans by their closer contact. Bats have not yet been considered leishmaniasis reservoirs however there are already few reports regarding the presence of Leishmania spp. in these animals. Therefore this study aims at evaluating the presence of this protozoan by Leishmania's DNA detection in bats from endemic areas (Northwest of São Paulo State, Brazil) in order to better understand the relevance of these mammals in the maintenance of this zoonosis. (AU)