title: Molecular detection of Leishmania braziliensis in Rattus norvegicus in an area endemic for cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil.
abstract: Leishmania nested PCR (LnPCR) targeted to the SSUrRNA gene and DNA sequencing were used to analyze 315 tissue samples from 80 Rattus norvegicus specimens trapped in an area endemic for leishmaniasis in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Of the samples analyzed, 17.46% (55/315) of all tissues, 10% (8/80) of skin, 26.92% (21/78) of blood, 30.76% (24/78) of bone marrow and 2.53% (2/79) of spleen were positive for Leishmania. The overall infection prevalence was 36.25% (29/80) The DNA sequencing showed that 65.51% (19/29) of the positive animals were infected by parasites belonging to the Leishmania braziliensis complex. The identification of L. braziliensis DNA in R. norvegicus in an area with a high prevalence of leishmaniasis might imply a zoonotic role of this species. The rodent control programs and health education may represent important measures toward the control of leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brasil.
authors.forename: Andreza P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Marcelino
authors.forename: Eduardo C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Jerônimo S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Avendanha
authors.forename: Cristiano F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
authors.forename: Gregório
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Elvio C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Rômulo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Jenner K P
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: dos Reis
authors.forename: Célia M F
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gontijo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D054682:Ribosome Subunits, Small, Eukaryotic / Q000235:genetics; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D012377:Rodentia; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology; D014505:Urban Population; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S