Abstract
Knowledge of potential reservoirs of Leishmania spp. in an anthropic environment is important so that surveillance and control measures can be implemented. The aim of this study was to investigate the infection by Leishmania in small mammals in an area located in Minas Gerais, Brazil, that undergoes changes in its natural environment and presents autochthonous human cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). For the capture of the animals, Sherman and Tomahawk traps were used and distributed in the peridomicile of houses with reports of autochthonous cases of CL or VL. Six catches were carried out on two consecutive nights with intervals of two months during one year and samples of spleen, liver, tail skin, ear skin and bone marrow of the animals were obtained. Parasitological and molecular methods were used to detect the infection. Identification of the Leishmania species was performed by PCR RFLPhsp70. Twenty five animals of four species were captured: ten Rattus rattus, nine Didelphis albiventris, five Cerradomys subflavus and one Marmosops incanus. In the PCR-hsp70, five animals were positive (20%). The Leishmania species identified in PCR-RFLPhsp70 were: Leishmania braziliensis in D. albiventris (2), C. subflavus (1) and R. rattus (1) and Leishmania infantum in R. rattus (1). The highest positivity rate for L. braziliensis was obtained in the liver samples. The spleen was the only tissue positive for L. infantum. It was isolated in culture medium L. braziliensis from two samples (liver and spleen) of R. rattus. This is the first record of isolation of L. braziliensis from R. rattus in the southeastern region of Brazil. These results are relevant to the knowledge of the epidemiology of leishmaniasis in the region, mainly in the investigation of the presence of hosts and possible reservoirs of the parasite.
Highlights
Leishmaniasis is considered the most complex and diverse of all vector-borne diseases with regard to ecology and epidemiology
In Brazil, species of the subgenus Leishmania (Viannia) and the species Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis are associated with human cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a disease that affects the skin and in some cases can occur in the mucous membranes
In this study we investigated the occurrence of infection by Leishmania spp. in small mammals of an area of campo rupestre (Brazilian rupestrian fields) with consolidated anthropic occupation and where there have been autochthonous cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and CL
Summary
Leishmaniasis is considered the most complex and diverse of all vector-borne diseases with regard to ecology and epidemiology. In the Americas, more than 40 species of mammals have been infected by some species of Leishmania, but only some of these animals has the role of reservoir for the parasite. Each mammalian species plays a role in maintaining the parasite, which means that these systems should always be considered on a restricted spatio-temporal scale and for each specific place and time [15]. The importance of these concepts to the control of american leishmaniasis is the fact that, in most cases, they are zoonoses that affect other mammals, and man is an accidental host [12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
