Detection of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi in Brazilian bats.
Although bats are one of the most abundant mammals in the new world and are present in virtually all ecosystems, including urban and peri-urban environments, few studies have investigated the role of these animals in the epidemiological chain of leishmaniosis. Here, we report a study of 683 bats captured in São Paulo county (southeastern from Brazil), which were screened by serology, parasitologic methods and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for trypanosomatids. The indirect immunofluorescent antibody test demonstrated that 0.9% of bats react positively for leishmaniosis and PCR detected the presence of DNA of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in 18 bats and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi in 3 specimens. These results indicate that further studies are necessary to evaluate the role of bats in maintenance of the Leishmania life cycle, especially in areas where these diseases are endemic.
Savani
Elisa San Martin Mouriz
ES
Centro de Controle de Zoonoses do Município de São Paulo, Rua Santa Eulália 86, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. elisa@prefeitura.sp.gov.br
de Almeida
Marilene Fernandes
MF
de Oliveira Camargo
Maria Cecília Gibrail
MC
D'Auria
Sandra Regina Nicoletti
SR
Silva
Miriam Martos Sodré
MM
de Oliveira
Maria Lúcia
ML
Sacramento
Débora
D
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy