Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
First evidence of autochthonous cases of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in horse (Equus caballus) in the Americas and mixed infection of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis.
- Journal:
- Veterinary parasitology
- Year:
- 2013
- Authors:
- Soares, Isabel R et al.
- Affiliation:
- Departamento de Clí · Brazil
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This study found the first cases of a parasite called Leishmania infantum in horses in the Americas, as well as a mixed infection with another type of Leishmania called Leishmania braziliensis. The researchers diagnosed these infections by looking for the parasites in skin lesions and bone marrow samples, using specific tests to identify them. They discovered that three horses had both types of Leishmania at the same time. More research is being done to understand how these parasites affect horses and how they might spread in urban areas of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The findings highlight a new concern for horse health in this region.
Abstract
This study reports the first evidence of infection by Leishmania infantum in Equus caballus in Americas and the first mixed infection of L. infantum/Leishmania braziliensis on this mammalian species in the world. The diagnoses was based on presence of parasites in lesions and bone marrow aspirates, their identification by using specific primers for L. infantum and L. braziliensis complexes and also serological methods IFAT and ELISA. The analysis of the PCR products suggested mixed infection in three animals. Further studies involving equine leishmaniasis are carrying out in order to clarify the dynamic of Leishmania sp. in this mammalian specie and their role in the transmission of those parasites in urban endemic area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23845306/