Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Detecting Leishmania infection in urban pet dogs using blood and DNA
By Paz, Gustavo F et al.·Published in Acta tropica·2018·Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Implications of the use of serological and molecular methods to detect infection by Leishmania spp. in urban pet dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 96 pet dogs in southeastern Brazil was tested for Leishmania infections, which can cause serious health issues. Out of these dogs, 8 tested positive for Leishmania using various blood tests, with some specifically infected by Leishmania braziliensis or Leishmania amazonensis. The study highlighted that certain tests could show cross-reactivity, meaning they might detect multiple types of Leishmania infections. This research is important as it confirms the presence of Leishmania amazonensis in dogs for the first time in this region. If your dog shows symptoms like skin lesions or weight loss, it's crucial to consult your vet for testing and treatment options.
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between naturally occurring Leishmania spp. infections in dogs (Canis familiaris) and the practical implications of the use of serological and molecular methods to confirm diagnoses. The study population consisted of 96 domestic dogs in southeastern Brazil. Serum samples were tested for the presence of anti-Leishmania immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using four commercial canine visceral leishmaniasis kits. Dogs confirmed positive by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) were culled and samples from mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen border, bone marrow and ear skin were taken and submitted to DNA extraction. PCR reactions were performed using primers that amplify a 300-350 bp fragment of the Leishmania ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region. The ITS1 amplified products were analyzed by PCR-RFLP using Hae III restriction endonuclease. To confirm the Leishmania species detected by PCR, each purified sample was sequenced in duplicate. Of the 96 serum samples submitted to serological assays, 8 (8.3%) tested positive for Leishmania by IFAT, 4 (4.1%) by ELISA, 2 (2.1%) by rK39 RDT and 7 (7.3%) by DPP. Four of these infected dogs (50%) were found to be infected only by Leishmania braziliensis or Leishmania amazonensis, and their serum samples tested positive by IFAT and DPP. These findings demonstrate for the first time that cross-reactivity of L. braziliensis and L. amazonensis infection in dogs can be found using the DPP serum test. This is the first record of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis confirmed by a specific molecular marker in dogs (Canis familiaris) from Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29545151/