title: Detection of Leishmania infantum DNA by fret-based real-time PCR in urine from dogs with natural clinical leishmaniosis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to detect Leishmania infantum DNA by real-time PCR in urine from different groups of dogs with clinical leishmaniosis. Urine from 10 clinically healthy dogs and 43 dogs with clinical leishmaniosis diagnosed by positive serology and/or bone marrow PCR were studied. The group of 43 dogs with clinical leishmaniosis was divided into three subgroups: 13 dogs with renal insufficiency and proteinuria (urine protein-creatinine ratio greater than one), 13 dogs with only proteinuria, and 17 dogs with neither renal insufficiency nor proteinuria. The detection of Leishmania DNA was performed by light cycler real-time PCR using hybridization probes in each urine sample. Leishmania positive PCR was found in 47% (20/43) of the urine from leishmaniotic dogs, while all urine from clinically healthy dogs were negative. The percentages of positive Leishmania PCR were 85% (11/13) in dogs with renal insufficiency and proteinuria, 23% (3/13) in dogs with proteinuria and 35% (6/17) in dogs with neither renal insufficiency nor proteinuria. Dogs with renal insufficiency and proteinuria presented a statistical significant greater percentage of positive Leishmania PCR in urine when compared with the other subgroups (P<0.02). This study demonstrates the presence of Leishmania DNA in urine of dogs with leishmaniosis. Those dogs with severe renal damage present a greater number of Leishmania parasites in urine.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Veterinaria Privata San Marco, Padova, Italy. laia@sanmarcovet.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solano-Gallego
authors.forename: Alheli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Cortes
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trotta
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zampieron
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Razia
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furlanello
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caldin
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Roura
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alberola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000652:urine; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000652:urine; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D018314:Leishmania infantum; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan