Characterization of Leishmania infantum species in dogs from the urban area of Cuiabá, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil.
BACKGROUND
Visceral leishmaniasis presents urban behavior in some Brazilian cities, with domestic dogs as the main infection source. In Cuiabá, MT, canine visceral leishmaniasis was diagnosed and characterized as recommended by the Ministry of Health.


METHODS
Biological samples from suspected canine carriers were analyzed by the isoenzyme electrophoresis technique. The 6PGDH enzyme and reference strain IOC/L0566 (MHOM/BR/1975/M2903) of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum was used as one of the controls.


RESULTS
Electrophoresis analysis revealed that the canine isolates belonged to the species L. (L.) infantum.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors emphasize the importance of species characterization, particularly in areas of mixed infection like Cuiabá.
Laboratório de Zoonoses, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sérgio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Bianca
B
De Santis
Elizabeth Gloria Oliveira Barbosa
EG
Santos
Elisa
E
Cupolillo
Renato
R
Porrozzi
Amanda dos Santos
Ados S
Cavalcanti
Bárbara Neves dos
BN
Santos
Saulo Teixeira
ST
De Moura
Kellen
K
Malhado
Sergio Augusto Miranda
SA
Chaves
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D014505:Urban Population