Leishmania chagasi in opossums (Didelphis albiventris) in an urban area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
We investigated the occurrence of Leishmania infantum chagasi in Didelphis albiventris opossums at a wild animal rehabilitation center in the city of Campo Grande, Brazil. A total of 54 opossums were tested for L. i. chagasi infection in peripheral blood and bone marrow samples. The samples were analyzed by direct examination, culturing in a specific medium, and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Leishmania i. chagasi DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 11 (20.37%) animals. A total of 81.81% of positive opossums were captured in areas of known visceral leishmaniasis transmission. These results suggest a role for D. albiventris in the urban transmission of visceral leishmaniasis.
Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina e Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil.
Roberta M P
RM
Humberg
Elisa T
ET
Oshiro
Maria do Socorro Pires E
Mdo S
Cruz
Paulo E M
PE
Ribolla
Diego P
DP
Alonso
Alda M T
AM
Ferreira
Raquel A
RA
Bonamigo
Norton
N
Tasso
Alessandra Gutierrez
AG
de Oliveira
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D048293:Didelphis / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D014505:Urban Population
D016054:DNA, Protozoan