Emergence of zoonotic canine leishmaniasis in the United States: isolation and immunohistochemical detection of Leishmania infantum from foxhounds from Virginia.
Previously considered an exotic disease, canine leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum has recently been detected within the foxhound population in the United States and parts of Canada. Leishmania infantum is the etiologic agent of visceral leishmaniasis in many areas of the world and dogs are considered a major reservoir host for human Leishmania infections. Human visceral leishmaniasis has recently emerged as an opportunistic infection among individuals co-infected with HIV/AIDS and in persons taking immunosuppressive drugs. We report the isolation of L. infantum from 3 naturally infected foxhounds from Virginia by culture of popliteal lymph node and bone marrow, and the development of an immunohistochemical test to detect the parasite in tissues.
Rosypal
Alexa C
AC
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 1410 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
Troy
Gregory C
GC
Zajac
Anne M
AM
Duncan
Robert B
RB
Waki
Kayoko
K
Chang
K P
KP
Lindsay
David S
DS
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D014768:Virginia; D015047:Zoonoses