title: Polymerase chain reaction using noninvasively obtained samples, for the detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in dogs.
abstract: A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure using noninvasively obtained samples, for the identification of Leishmania infantum in canine tissues, was evaluated and compared with serologic testing and culture. A total of 92% of naturally infected, symptomatic, seropositive dogs were found to be positive by use of DNA from conjunctival swabs. Spleen or lymph node aspirates were found to be positive by PCR in 86% and by culture in 74% of these dogs. The sensitivity and specificity of conjunctival PCR were 92% and 100%, respectively. Experimentally infected dogs were found to be positive by conjunctival PCR already at 45 days of infection (83%) and before seroconversion. PCR using noninvasively obtained conjunctival samples will be useful for epidemiological studies and for direct diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel. strauss@agri.huji.ac.il.
authors.forename: Dalit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Strauss-Ayali
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Jaffe
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Burshtain
authors.forename: Liat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gonen
authors.forename: Gad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baneth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000469:parasitology*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan