A Molecular and Serological Study on Visceral Leishmaniasis in Asymptomatic Stray Dogs in Mashhad, Iran

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

2 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania infantum (L. infantum),and its major reservoir hosts are domestic dogs, most of which are asymptomatic. This study aimed to detect L. infantum spp. in asymptomatic stray dogs by molecular and serological methods in Mashhad, Iran, during 2011-12. In this study, 94 asymptomatic stray dogs were randomly selected and their blood samples were collected for indirect fluorescent antibody testing. Furthermore, tissue samples from all the L. infantum seropositive stray dogs were examined using semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Accordding to the results, 11.7 %(11/94) of the dogs were L. infantum seropositive. The PCR positivity rate of L. infantum was 63.6% (7/11) in at least one of the collected specimens of the seropositive dogs. The L. infantum kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) was detected in the liver of 36% (4/11), the spleen of 27% (3/11), and the skin of 54.5 %(6/11) of the stray dogs. In this study, based on the molecular and serological examinations, visceral leishmaniasis infection among the stray dogs in Mashhad was confirmed.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Article Title [French]

Analyse sérologique et moléculaire de laleishmaniose viscérale chez les chiens errants asymptomatiquesde la ville de Mechhed

Abstract [French]

Les chiens errants ont été identifiés comme la source principale dela leishmaniose viscérale provoquée par l’espèce Leishmania infantum. Un nombre important de chiens infectés ne présente aucun signe clinique et sont considérés comme des vecteurs potentiels de cette maladie. Cette étude a pour objectif d’évaluer par le biais d’examens sérologiques et moléculaires, le taux d’infection par la leishmaniose viscérale chez les chiens errants de la ville de Mechhed . Entre 2011 et 2013, 94 chiens ont été sélectionnés au hasard et des échantillons de sang ont été prélevés pour mener destests d'immunofluorescence indirecte. De plus, une analyse moléculaire par seminested-PCR a été effectuée sur des échantillons de tissus provenant des chiens errants séropositifs.Ces analyses ont révélés que 11 chiens (11,7%) présentaient un sérum positif contre leleishmania infantum.La méthode seminested-PCRP a permi de confirmer l'infection par le Leishmania infantumchez 7 des 11 chiens errants séropositifs (63.6%). La présence d'ADN appartenant au Leishmania infantum a été détectée dans 36% des tissus hépatiques, 27% des tissus de rate et 54,5% des tissus de peau prélevés à partirdes chiens errants séropositifs. Nos analyses sérologiques et moléculaires ont donc confirmés la présence de l’infection au Leishmania Infantum chez les chiens errants de la ville de Mechhed ne présentant aucun symptômeapparent.

Keywords [French]

  • Leishmania Infantum
  • chien errant
  • ville de Mechhed
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