Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leishmania and Dirofilaria infections in dogs from Kerala tribal areas
By Saini, Prasanta et al.·Published in Parasitology research·2025·ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), India·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Molecular detection of Leishmania donovani, Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis," and Wolbachia spp. in the dog population from tribal settlements of Western Ghats, Kerala, India.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs from tribal settlements in Kerala, India, were tested for infections caused by Leishmania donovani, a parasite that causes leishmaniasis, and Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis," a type of heartworm. Out of 75 dogs, over half were found to have leishmaniasis, while about a quarter had the heartworm infection. Some dogs were co-infected with both parasites, and a few also had Wolbachia, a bacteria often associated with heartworm. These findings highlight the growing risk of these diseases in the area, suggesting that pet owners should be vigilant and consider preventive measures.
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Abstract
Leishmaniasis and dirofilariasis are significant emerging zoonotic diseases. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of single and co-infections involving Leishmania donovani, Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis", and Wolbachia spp. among dogs from the Kani tribal settlements of Western Ghats, Kerala. In July 2023, blood samples from 75 dogs were collected and analyzed using microscopy, serology, and molecular diagnostics. Molecular analysis using kDNA-PCR and ITS1 PCR identified leishmaniasis in 39 out of 75 dog samples (52.0% [95% CI, 40.2 to 63.7], with phylogenetic analysis confirming the species as L. donovani. Additionally, 19 out of 75 dog samples (25.3% [95% CI, 16.0 to 36.7]) produced a ~ 720 bp band for nematode-specific COI amplification, which was confirmed as Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis". Among the 19 Dirofilaria-positive samples, 14 (73.7% [95% CI, 48.8 to 90.9]) tested positive for Wolbachia using the wsp primer. Among the 75 dogs screened, 12 (16% [95% CI, 08.6 to 26.3]) were co-infected with Leishmania and Dirofilaria, while 9 (12% [95% CI, 05.6 to 21.6]) were co-infected with all three parasites: L. donovani, Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis", and Wolbachia spp. The findings suggest that Kerala is gradually becoming more vulnerable to zoonoses like leishmaniasis and dirofilariasis emphasizing the need for prompt intervention and prevention measures. These results underscore the critical need for continued development of multi-pathogen detection methods, not only in regions where multiple diseases are endemic but also in areas where such diseases may emerge.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40338373/