Visceral leishmaniasis in a captive crab-eating fox Cerdocyon thous.
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution. The crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) is considered a wild reservoir of many zoonotical diseases, particularly VL. This study reported the presence of Leishmania infantum amastigotes in different organs of one captive C. thous found dead in a zoo. This animal was positive by the indirect fluorescence antibody test and had many clinical signs of VL. Intracellular amastigote forms of L. infantum were seen in neutrophils and macrophages in sample tissues from skin, lymph nodes (popliteal, submandibular, prescapular, and mesenteric), spleen, and liver. The numbers of positive cells and intracellular parasites were higher in macrophages than in neutrophils. In addition, polymerase chain reaction demonstrated extensive distribution of Leishmania DNA in C. thous tissues from multiple organs. The presence of intracellular amastigotes in neutrophils and macrophages as well as DNA of the parasite in tissues, specifically skin demonstrate that this crab-eating fox is an adequate host for L. infantum and reinforce the importance of VL for symptomatic wild canids kept in captivity in endemic areas.
Departamento de Biologia e Zootecnia, Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira FEIS/ UNESP, Avenida Brasil, 56, 15385-000 Ilha Solteira, São Paulo, Brazil.
Michely da Silva
Mda S
Tenório
Lucio
L
Oliveira e Sousa
Mírian dos Santos
Mdos S
Paixão
Maria Fernanda
MF
Alves
Silvana de Cássia
Sde C
Paulan
Flavia Luna
FL
Lima
Márcia Mariza Gomes
MM
Jusi
Karen Ingrid
KI
Tasca
Rosangela Zacarias
RZ
Machado
Wilma Aparecida
WA
Starke-Buzetti
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D005589:Foxes; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008046:Lip / Q000473:pathology; D009055:Mouth / Q000473:pathology; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary