Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leishmania infantum found in sand flies and dogs in Southern Brazil
By Cardoso, Sabrina Fernandes et al.·Published in Parasites & vectors·2024·Department of Cell Biology, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Leishmania infantum detection in Nyssomyia neivai and dogs in Southern Brazil.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs in Southern Brazil tested positive for Leishmania infantum, a parasite that can cause serious health issues. In this study, researchers found that two out of 47 dogs had the infection, which can lead to visceral leishmaniasis. They also discovered that a common sand fly species, Nyssomyia neivai, was carrying the same parasite, indicating that these flies could be spreading the infection to dogs in the area. It's important for dog owners in this region to be aware of the risks and consult their veterinarian for preventive measures or treatment options if their pets show any symptoms.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: The sand fly Nyssomyia neivai is one of the most abundant species in Southern Brazil. It is frequently found in areas that are foci of visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Santa Catarina, caused by Leishmania infantum. In this region, the main vector of L. infantum, Lutzomyia longipalpis, has not been detected. In the absence of L. longipalpis, this study aimed to identify the sand fly fauna and diagnose any potential Leishmania spp. infection in sand flies and in dogs in a region of Southern Brazil that experienced a recent canine visceral leishmaniasis outbreak. METHODS: This report includes a survey of the sand fly fauna at the Zoonosis Control Center of the Municipality of Tubarão (Santa Catarina, Brazil). Molecular tests were conducted to investigate Leishmania spp. natural infection in sand flies using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In positive females, in addition to morphological identification, molecular analysis through DNA barcoding was performed to determine the sand fly species. Additionally, the dogs were tested for the presence of Leishmania spp. using a non-invasive technique for the collection of biological material, to be assessed by PCR. RESULTS: A total of 3419 sand flies, belonging to five genera, were collected. Nyssomyia neivai was the most abundant species (85.8%), followed by Migonemyia migonei (13.3%), Pintomyia fischeri (0.8%), Evandromyia edwardsi (< 0.1%), and species of the genus Brumptomyia. (0.1%). Out of the 509 non-engorged females analyzed by PCR, two (0.4%) carried L. infantum DNA. The naturally infected females were identified as Ny. neivai, in both morphological and molecular analysis. In addition, two out of 47 conjunctival swabs from dogs tested positive for L. infantum, yielding an infection rate of 4.2%. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the presence of Ny. neivai naturally infected with L. infantum in an area where dogs were also infected by the parasite, suggesting its potential role as a vector in Southern Brazil.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38918858/