title: Detection and quantification of Leishmania braziliensis in ectoparasites from dogs.
abstract: American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is a disease caused by different species of Leishmania protozoa, Leishmania braziliensis being the main species found in Brazil. In this study, two rural areas in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, where ACL is endemic, were selected. Genomic DNA was extracted from canine ectoparasites (ticks, fleas, and lice) and tested using a conventional PCR and a quantitative real time PCR. A total of 117 ectoparasites were collected, being 50 (42.74%) of them positive for L. braziliensis (in at least one PCR protocol), with a mean parasite load of 14.14 fg/μL. Furthermore, 46 (92.00%) positive ectoparasites were collected from positive dogs and 4 (8.00%) from negative ones. This study reports the detection of L. braziliensis DNA in ectoparasites, but does not prove their vector competence. Certainly, experimental transmission studies are necessary to assess their role, if any, in the transmission of Leishmania parasites to dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s/n, 50670-420 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rayana Carla Silva
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: de Morais
authors.forename: Suênia da Cunha
authors.initials: Sda C
authors.lastname: Gonçalves-de-Albuquerque
authors.forename: Rômulo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pessoa e Silva
authors.forename: Pietra Lemos
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Kamila Gaudêncio
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Fernando José
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Sinval Pinto
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Brandão-Filho
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dantas-Torres
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Paiva-Cavalcanti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008003:Phthiraptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D013987:Ticks / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Dogs; Ectoparasites; Leishmania braziliensis; PCR; Real time PCR