Abstract
Background and Aim:Leishmania spp. are known to cause disease in man and animals. Rats are considered important reservoir hosts and transmission takes place through the bite of female sand fly, Phlebotomus spp. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published information on Leishmania infection in rats in Grenada. This study was conducted to estimate the antibodies for visceralizing Leishmania spp. (VL) in rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Grenada.Materials and Methods:A total of 146 brown rats (R. norvegicus) were trapped live from two parishes (St. George and St. David) in Grenada. Following anesthesia, blood was collected from the heart through thoracic puncture. The serum was collected after the centrifugation of blood. Serum was tested for antibodies to VL. with a commercially available immunochromatographic dipstick test which is licensed for use in animals and humans.Results:The seroprevalence of antibodies against Leishmania spp. was found in 34 of 146 rats (23.3%; CI 95% from 16.70 to 30.99). No significant differences were found between sexes and young or adults. The prevalence between parishes (St. George and St. David) was also not significant.Conclusion:The results show that rats (R. norvegicus) in Grenada are exposed to Leishmania spp. The rats could play an important role in the transmission of leishmaniasis to humans and other animals in Grenada.
Highlights
Leishmaniasis is a wide-ranging spectrum of diseases caused by parasites in the genus Leishmania
The results show that rats (R. norvegicus) in Grenada are exposed to Leishmania spp
The rats could play an important role in the transmission of leishmaniasis to humans and other animals in Grenada
Summary
Leishmaniasis is a wide-ranging spectrum of diseases caused by parasites in the genus Leishmania. Leishmania spp. are insect-vectored intracellular protozoan parasites causing disease in humans and animals [1]. The clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis usually depend on the species of Leishmania infecting the host. Parasites in the Leishmania donovani complex typically cause visceral leishmaniasis (VL), which leads to hepatosplenomegaly and can be fatal if left untreated. Dogs are considered the main reservoir of zoonotic species of Leishmania, including the L. donovani complex. Leishmania spp. are known to cause disease in man and animals. Rats are considered important reservoir hosts and transmission takes place through the bite of female sand fly, Phlebotomus spp. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published information on Leishmania infection in rats in Grenada. This study was conducted to estimate the antibodies for visceralizing Leishmania spp. (VL) in rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Grenada
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