Clinical and molecular evaluation of dogs from endemic area with visceral leishmaniasis

• Grant number: 16/03774-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2016
• End date: January 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Trícia Maria Ferreira de Sousa Oliveira
• Grantee: Jessica Anzolin Isaac
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leishmaniases are diseases caused by flagellate protozoa belonging to the family Trypanosomatidae, genus Leishmania that is transmitted through the bite of family Plebotomidae female mosquitoes. Leishmaniases presents a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations: visceral, cutaneous and mucocutaneous. In urban areas, dogs are considered the main reservoir for visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The World Health Organization (WHO) considers VL as the second most important protozoan infection. It is associated with malnutrition, population displacement, poor housing, weak immune system and lack of resources. The diagnosis of this disease should be performed based on clinical symptomatology, epidemiological characteristics of region, and laboratory tests contributing to the correct destination of the truly positive animals. The use of Nested-PCR for diagnosis allows the identification of more sensitive and specific parasite sequences. The use of ITS-1 for genus Leishmania, provides an adequate number of polymorphisms to distinguish the species level and also intraspecific changes between species of the same region. The main objective of this study is to use the Nested-PCR technique to diagnosis of canine VL through the ITS-1. The specific objectives include evaluation of the presence of Leishmania DNA in blood samples and conjunctival swabs of at least 100 dogs from an endemic area for VL, sequencing of the positive samples and clinical evaluation of the animals, classifying them into four types stage clinical. The Nested-PCR and sequencing results will be compared with clinical signs shown by the animals.

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)

FERNANDES, MURILO ANTONIO; FRANCO LEONEL, JOAO AUGUSTO; ISAAC, JESSICA ANZOLIN; BENASSI, JULIA CRISTINA; SILVA, DIOGO TIAGO; PEREIRA SPADA, JULIO CESAR; BALBINI PEREIRA, NUNO WOLFGANG; FERREIRA, HELENA LAGE; KEID, LARA BORGES; SOARES, RODRIGO MARTINS; et al. Deteção molecular de DNA de Leishmania infantum em diferentes estágios clínicos da leishmaniose em cães. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, v. 28, n. 2, p. 194-202, APR-JUN 2019. (16/03774-5)

FERNANDES, MURILO ANTONIO; FRANCO LEONEL, JOAO AUGUSTO; ISAAC, JESSICA ANZOLIN; BENASSI, JULIA CRISTINA; SILVA, DIOGO TIAGO; PEREIRA SPADA, JULIO CESAR; BALBINI PEREIRA, NUNO WOLFGANG; FERREIRA, HELENA LAGE; KEID, LARA BORGES; SOARES, RODRIGO MARTINS; et al. Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum DNA according to clinical stages of leishmaniasis in dog. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA, v. 28, n. 2, p. 9-pg., 2019-04-01. (16/03774-5)