Detection of Leishmania tarentolae in lizards, sand flies and dogs in southern Italy, where Leishmania infantum is endemic: hindrances and opportunities

Abstract Background Leishmania tarentolae is a protozoan isolated from geckoes (Tarentola annularis, Tarentola mauritanica), which is considered non-pathogenic and is transmitted by herpetophilic Sergentomyia spp. sand flies. This species occurs in sympatry with Leishmania infantum in areas where canine leishmaniasis is endemic. In the present study, we investigated the circulation of L. tarentolae and L. infantum in sand flies, dogs and lizards in a dog shelter in southern Italy, where canine leishmaniasis by L. infantum is endemic. Methods Sheltered dogs (n = 100) negative for Leishmania spp. (March 2020) were screened by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) using promastigotes of both species at two time points (June 2020 and March 2021). Whole blood from dogs, tissues of Podarcis siculus lizards (n = 28) and sand flies (n = 2306) were also sampled and tested by a duplex real-time PCR (dqPCR). Host blood meal was assessed in sand flies by PCR. Results Overall, 16 dogs became positive for L. infantum and/or L. tarentolae by IFAT at one or both sampling periods. One canine blood sample was positive for L. infantum, whilst two for L. tarentolae by dqPCR. At the cytology of lizard blood, Leishmania spp. amastigote-like forms were detected in erythrocytes. Twenty-two tissue samples, mostly lung (21.4%), scored molecularly positive for L. tarentolae, corresponding to 10 lizards (i.e., 35.7%). Of the female Sergentomyia minuta sampled (n = 1252), 158 scored positive for L. tarentolae, four for L. infantum, and one co-infected. Two Phlebotomus perniciosus (out of 29 females) were positive for L. tarentolae. Engorged S. minuta (n = 10) fed on humans, and one P. perniciosus, positive for L. tarentolae, on lagomorphs. Conclusions Dogs and lacertid lizards (Podarcis siculus) were herein found for the first time infected by L. tarentolae. The detection of both L. tarentolae and L. infantum in S. minuta and P. perniciosus suggests their sympatric circulation, with a potential overlap in vertebrate hosts. The interactions between L. tarentolae and L. infantum should be further investigated in both vectors and vertebrate hosts to understand the potential implications for the diagnosis and control of canine leishmaniasis in endemic areas. Graphical abstract

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Evaluation of the performance of three serological tests for diagnosis of Leishmania infantum infection in dogs using latent class analysis

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612020105 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Asier Basurco ◽

Alda Natale ◽

Katia Capello ◽

Antonio Fernández ◽

María Teresa Verde ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Latent Class ◽

Rapid Test ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Latent Class Models ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Serological Tests

Abstract Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a disease caused by Leishmania infantum. Serological methods are the most common diagnostic techniques used for the diagnosis of the CanL. The objective of our study was to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of one in-house ELISA kit (ELISA UNIZAR) and three commercially available serological tests (MEGACOR Diagnostik GmbH) including an immunochromatographic rapid test (FASTest LEISH®), an immunofluorescent antibody test (MegaFLUO LEISH®) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MegaELISA LEISH®), using latent class models in a Bayesian analysis. Two hundred fifteen serum samples were included. The highest sensitivity was achieved for FASTest LEISH® (99.38%), ELISA UNIZAR (99.37%), MegaFLUO LEISH® (99.36%) followed by MegaELISA LEISH® (98.49%). The best specificity was obtained by FASTest LEISH® (98.43%), followed by ELISA UNIZAR (97.50%), whilst MegaFLUO LEISH® and MegaELISA LEISH® obtained the lower specificity (91.94% and 91.93%, respectively). The results of present study indicate that the immunochromatographic rapid test evaluated FASTest LEISH® show similar levels of sensitivity and specificity to the quantitative commercial tests. Among quantitative serological tests, sensitivity and specificity were similar considering ELISA or IFAT techniques.

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Evaluation of a dinotefuran-permethrin-pyriorixyfen insect repellent in dogs exposed to experimental infestations of sand flies (Lutzomyia longipalpis)

Clínica Veterinária ◽

10.46958/rcv.2018.xxiii.n.136.p.58-73 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol XXIII (136) ◽

pp. 58-73

Author(s):

Bruna Cerruti de Godoi ◽

Sandra Fernandez ◽

Paula Bandiera Leite ◽

Sidimar Sossai ◽

Leonardo Pinto Brandão ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Sand Flies ◽

Major Player ◽

High Incidence ◽

Receive Treatment ◽

And Control

Visceral leishmaniasis is a serious zoonosis, and has a high incidence in Brazil. The ubiquitous presence of sand flies is a major player in the high incidence of leishmaniasis in urban areas of Brazil. Prevention and control or canine leishmaniasis is important to decrease the incidence of the zoonosis. Control is done with topical use of products with antiparasitic, repellent and insecticide action. This study evaluated the repellent efficacy of line-on application of a topical permethrin-dinotefuran-pyriproxyfen formulation in dogs. Six dogs were treated with the product and six did not receive treatment. All dogs were sedated and exposed to sand flies of the species Lutzomyia longipalpis weekly for 28 days. The result showed that the product had an efficacy of 90.4% in repelling sand flies. There was statistical significance (p ≤ 0,05) difference in the number (mean) of live engorged sand fly females between the two groups in all evaluations. The product showed repellent efficacy against Lutzomyia longipalpis for 28 days.

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Toward Diagnosing Leishmania infantum Infection in Asymptomatic Dogs in an Area Where Leishmaniasis Is Endemic

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology ◽

10.1128/cvi.00268-08 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 337-343 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

D. Otranto ◽

P. Paradies ◽

D. de Caprariis ◽

D. Stanneck ◽

G. Testini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis ◽

Immunofluorescence Antibody Test ◽

Immunofluorescence Antibody

ABSTRACT The most frequently used diagnostic methods were compared in a longitudinal survey with Leishmania infantum-infected asymptomatic dogs from an area of Italy where leishmaniasis is endemic. In February and March 2005, 845 asymptomatic dogs were tested by an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), a dipstick assay (DS), and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for L. infantum and by IFAT for Ehrlichia canis. Dogs seronegative for L. infantum were further parasitologically evaluated by microscopic examination of lymph node tissues and PCR of skin samples. A total of 204 animals both serologically and parasitologically negative for L. infantum at the first sampling were enrolled in the trial and were further examined for canine leishmaniasis (CanL) and canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in November 2005 (i.e., the end of the first sandfly season) and March 2006 and 2007 (1- and 2-year follow-ups, respectively). At the initial screening, the overall rates of L. infantum seroprevalence were 9.5% by IFAT, 17.1% by ELISA, and 9.8% by DS and the overall rate of E. canis seroprevalence was 15%. The rates of concordance between the results of IFAT and DS were almost equal, whereas the rate of concordance between the results of IFAT and DS and those of the ELISA was lower. The results of the annual incidence of Leishmania infection were variable, depending on the test employed, with the highest values registered for PCR (i.e., 5.7% and 11.4% at the 1- and 2-year follow-ups, respectively), followed by ELISA, IFAT, and DS. Over the 2 years of observation, 55 animals (i.e., 26.9%) became positive for L. infantum by one or more diagnostic tests at different follow-up times, with 12.7% showing clinical signs related to CanL, while the remaining 87.3% were asymptomatic. A diagnostic scheme for assessment of the L. infantum infection status in asymptomatic dogs is suggested.

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Detection ofLeishmania Infantumin red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Central Greece

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182015001158 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 142 (13) ◽

pp. 1574-1578 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

STELIOS KARAYIANNIS ◽

PANTELIS NTAIS ◽

IPPOKRATIS MESSARITAKIS ◽

NIKOLAOS TSIRIGOTAKIS ◽

EMMANOUIL DOKIANAKIS ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Vulpes Vulpes ◽

Antibody Test ◽

First Record ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Central Greece ◽

Wild Canid ◽

Phlebotomus Perfiliewi

SUMMARYThis is the first record ofLeishmaniadetection in foxes in Greece. Spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow and blood samples were collected from 47 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) found dead or captured, narcotized and freed after bleeding, from November 2009 to 2011, in Fthiotida prefecture, central Greece. This is an endemic for canine leishmaniasis area with several human visceral leishmaniasis cases. The samples were tested forLeishmania infantumandLeishmania tropicaby molecular methods (polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism) and serology (indirect immunofluorescent antibody test; when blood samples were available).Leishmania infantumDNA was detected in 28 animals (59·5%). PCR positivity was related to animal age, sex, weight, characteristics of the area trapped, presence of leishmaniasis symptoms and presence of endo- and ecto-parasites. The results were related to dog seropositivity obtained earlier in the area. The findings support the hypothesis that this wild canid may serve as a reservoir forLeishmaniain areas where the sandfly vectors are found. In the prefectures of Larisa and Magnisia, adjacent to Fthiotida,Phlebotomus perfiliewi and Phlebotomus tobbi(known vectors ofL. infantum) have been reported.

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Transmission of Leishmania infantum in the Canine Leishmaniasis Focus of Mont-Rolland, Senegal: Ecological, Parasitological and Molecular Evidence for a Possible Role of Sergentomyia Sand Flies

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0004940 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. e0004940 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Massila Wagué Senghor ◽

Abdoul Aziz Niang ◽

Jérome Depaquit ◽

Hubert Ferté ◽

Malick Ndao Faye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

Sand Flies

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Different Patterns of Fluorescence in the Quantisation of anti-Leishmania Infantum Antibodies by Indirect Immuno-Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) in the Serological Diagnosis of Canine Leishmaniasis

Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.4236/ojvm.2017.73003 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 07 (03) ◽

pp. 23-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pasquale Santoro ◽

Andrea Vellusi

Keyword(s):

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Fluorescent Antibody ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Serological Diagnosis ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis

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Serological, molecular, and microscopic detection of Leishmania in cats (Felis catus) in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-296120180052 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 570-574 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Fernanda Morcatti Coura ◽

Stephanie Karoline Pereira Passos ◽

Marina de Oliveira França Pelegrino ◽

Fabiola de Oliveira Paes Leme ◽

Gustavo Fontes Paz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Infection ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Endemic Region ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Human Leishmaniasis ◽

Belo Horizonte

Abstract The role of cats in the epidemiological cycle of leishmaniasis remains unclear. To better understand the occurrence of leishmaniasis in cats, we studied the frequency of Leishmania in serum samples of 100 cats living in an endemic region for canine and human leishmaniasis by serological, parasitological, and molecular methods. Of the 100 cats, 54 were seropositive for Leishmania antibodies by immunofluorescence antibody test. None of the bone marrow aspirates collected from these cats tested positive for the parasite in culture or upon polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Biopsy samples of the ears also tested negative for Leishmania upon PCR analysis. These findings may indicate that the region is endemic for canine leishmaniasis and cats are infected by Leishmania; or that cross-reaction with antibodies against other parasites increases the frequency of seropositivity; or that cats respond to Leishmania infection by producing antibodies when few or no parasites are present in bone marrow and tissue samples. Overall, our results suggest that cats can be infected by Leishmania ; however, we failed to demonstrate feline parasitosis. These findings highlight the need to study leishmaniasis in cats, since sandflies feed on cats, these animals may act as a reservoir for the parasite.

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