Can Equids Be a Reservoir of Leishmania braziliensis in Endemic Areas?

Jessé Henrique Truppel,Flavio Otomura,Vanete Thomaz-Soccol,Luana Dalagrana,Maria Eugênia Moreira Costa Ferreira,Rubens Massafera,Magda Clara Vieira Da Costa-Ribeiro,Ueslei Teodoro,Carolina Motter Catarino,Henk D F H Schallig

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093731

Jessé Henrique Truppel, Flavio Otomura + Show 8 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093731

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Abstract

In this study, we detected Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis infection in equids living in endemic regions of cutaneous leishmaniasis. To determine the role of these animals in the Leishmania cycle, we used two approaches: serological and molecular methods. Antibodies to the parasite were assayed using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Blood samples were collected and tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the positive products were sequenced. The results showed that 11.0% (25/227) of the equids were seropositive for Leishmania sp, and 16.3% (37/227) were PCR positive. Antibodies were detected in 20 horses, 3 donkeys, and 2 mules, and the parasite DNA was detected in 30 horses, 5 donkeys, and 2 mules. Sequencing the amplified DNA revealed 100% similarity with sequences for Viannia complex, corroborating the results of PCR for L. braziliensis. Our results show that equids are infected with L. braziliensis, which could be food sources for phlebotomines in the peridomiciliary environment and consequently play a role in the cutaneous leishmaniasis cycle.

Highlights

In the New World, cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans is caused by various species, including Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, Leishmania (V.) peruviana, Leishmania (V.) guyanensis, Leishmania (V.) panamensis, Leishmania (V.) shawi, Leishmania (V.) lainsoni, Leishmania (V.) naiffi, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, Leishmania (L.) mexicana, and Leishmania (L.) venezuelensis, while visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by only one species, Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum [1,2,3,4].The parasite can infect humans in the tropics and subtropics worldwide
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Anti-Leishmania braziliensis antibodies were detected in sera from 25 of the 227 equids analyzed (11.0%)
This study proved that equids from southern Brazil are infected with L. braziliensis, since antibodies were detected in sera and parasite DNA were found in the blood samples

Summary

Introduction

In the New World, cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans is caused by various species, including Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, Leishmania (V.) peruviana, Leishmania (V.) guyanensis, Leishmania (V.) panamensis, Leishmania (V.) shawi, Leishmania (V.) lainsoni, Leishmania (V.) naiffi, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, Leishmania (L.) mexicana, and Leishmania (L.) venezuelensis, while visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by only one species, Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum [1,2,3,4].The parasite can infect humans in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. During the last 60 years, in some regions of Brazil, in the southeast and south, there have been extensive changes in the environment and increases in agricultural and pastoral activities. This resulted in the virtual disappearance of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) from the end of the 1950s to the 1970s. In the 1980s, an increased incidence of CL was observed in endemic areas but in new areas, and outbreaks were reported in regions where leishmaniasis was considered eradicated [9,10,11,12,13,14]

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