title: Detection of Leishmania parasites in the testis of a dog affected by orchitis: case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transmission of canine leishmaniasis (CanL), a severe infection caused by L. infantum, usually occurs through the sand fly bite to the vertebrate host. A venereal route of transmission has also been suggested, but this issue is still controversial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, we report a case of a dog affected by orchitis showing a clinical profile of L. infantum infection. By exploiting a real-time PCR assay, we detected a significantly higher DNA load of the parasite in the lymph node and testis than in blood and urine samples collected from the dog.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that: 1) L. infantum infection can be associated with testicular lesions in naturally infected dogs; 2) genital involvement could result in shedding of the parasites in the semen, favoring venereal transmission of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Via F, Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy. laumanna@unina.it
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manna
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Paciello
authors.forename: Rossella Della
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Morte
authors.forename: Angelo Elio
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gravino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D009920:Orchitis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D059208:Parasite Load; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013737:Testis / Q000469:parasitology