Comparison of paraffin-embedded skin biopsies from different anatomical regions as sampling methods for detection of Leishmania infection in dogs using histological, immunohistochemical and PCR methods.
BACKGROUND
We compared skin biopsy samples from different anatomical regions for detecting Leishmania in dogs, using histological (HE), immunohistochemical (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques.


RESULTS
The sensitivity was 82.8 percent for PCR, 62.1 percent for IHC and 44.8 percent for HE. These methods do not appear to depend on the clinical status of the animal or the anatomical source of the skin sample; there is no "best region" for any method. However, PCR was more effective than IHC and HE for ear and nose skin samples whereas IHC was better than HE for nose samples. There was weak agreement between PCR and HE for all tissue samples; good agreement between PCR and IHC for ear and abdomen samples, and weak agreement for nose; and optimal agreement between IHC and HE for ear and abdomen and good agreement for nose samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The PCR on ear skin could be the best procedure for diagnosing canine visceral leishmaniasis. The good agreement between PCR and IHC indicates that IHC can be used as an alternative method. Finally, tissue samples from ears, nose and abdomen, particularly ears and nose, are potentially useful for diagnosing canine visceral leishmaniasis independently of the animal's clinical status.
Xavier
Sílvio Coura
SC
Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil. silvioxavier@hotmail.com
de Andrade
Hélida Monteiro
HM
Monte
Semíramis Jamil Hadad
SJ
Chiarelli
Ingrid Maria
IM
Lima
Wanderson Geraldo
WG
Michalick
Marilene Suzan Marques
MS
Tafuri
Washington Luiz
WL
Tafuri
Wagner Luiz
WL
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology*
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan