Molecular and serological detection of Leishmania spp. in horses from an endemic area for canine visceral leishmaniasis in southeastern Brazil

Author(s)

Benassi, Julia C. ^[1] ; Benvenga, Graziella U. ^[2] ; Ferreira, Helena L. ^{[1, 2]} ; Soares, Rodrigo M. ^[2] ; Silva, Diogo T. ^[2] ; Pereira, Vanessa F. ^[2] ; Ruiz, Vera Letticie A. ^[1] ; Oliveira, Tricia Maria F. de S. ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Zootecnia & Engn Alimentos, Dept Med Vet, Ave Duque de Caxias Norte 225, BR-13635900 Pirassununga, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Programa Posgrad Epidemiol Expt Aplicada Zoonoses, Ave Prof Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira; v. 38, n. 6, p. 1058-1063, JUN 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to verify the occurrence of Leishmania spp. and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in horses from a visceral leishmaniasis endemic area in Brazil. DNA samples from blood and conjunctival swab (CS) were tested by PCR and Indirect Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT). Although none of the horses was clinically sick, animals infected by Leishmania spp. were found and some could be characterized as infected by L. (L.) infantum. From 40 horses, 100% of the animals were positive by blood PCR, 90% (36/40) by CS PCR, and 2.5% (01/40) in serodiagnosis, by IFAT. Six from these 40 horses were L. (L.) infantum positive by blood PCR. Direct sequencing and analysis of amplicons resulted in a sequence to evolutionary analysis. Results indicate the presence of Leishmania spp. and L. (L.) infantum infecting healthy horses in Brazil. The presence of Leishmania spp. and L. (L.) infantum DNA in asymptomatic horses suggests that they can be important reservoirs of these parasites, a highly relevant finding for the epidemiological surveillance of the diseases they cause. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/00147-6 - Conjunctival swab samples for canine leishmaniasis detection by PCR
• Grantee: Trícia Maria Ferreira de Sousa Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/19821-4 - Conjunctival swab to Real Time PCR detection of canine visceral leishmaniasis in epidemiological surveys
• Grantee: Trícia Maria Ferreira de Sousa Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants