title: First detection of Leishmania infantum kinetoplast DNA in hair of wild mammals: application of qPCR method to determine potential parasite reservoirs.
abstract: The data presented in this paper describe the application of a method for a reliable and non-invasive diagnosis of leishmaniosis in wild reservoirs, based on the detection of Leishmania infantum kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) in hair samples by Real Time PCR (qPCR). The study has been performed on 68 ear/leg hair samples from 5 different wild species (Vulpes vulpes, Canis lupus, Martes foina, Rattus norvegicus and Erinaceus europaeus) from several geographic areas of West and North Spain. The presence of Leishmania kDNA was detected in 14 of the 68 analyzed samples, being the highest quantity of DNA observed in foxes. This is the first report of the presence of Leishmania in a hedgehog. The kDNA remained stable under the exposure of hair to different environmental conditions (freezing or high temperature, ultraviolet rays or treatment with tanning salts). This detection method could constitute a suitable alternative for the search of the parasite in wild hosts, due to the numerous advantages that hair samples present for collection, transport and storage processes.
authors: LeishmanCeres Laboratory (GLP Compliance Certified), Parasitology Unit, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Avenida de la Universidad s/n, 10003 Cáceres, Spain. Electronic address: rubenmunozvet@gmail.com.
authors: Rubén
authors: R
authors: Muñoz-Madrid
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Belinchón-Lorenzo
authors: Virginia
authors: V
authors: Iniesta
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Fernández-Cotrina
authors: Juan Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Parejo
authors: Francisco Javier
authors: FJ
authors: Serrano
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Monroy
authors: Victora
authors: V
authors: Baz
authors: Adela
authors: A
authors: Gómez-Luque
authors: Luis Carlos
authors: LC
authors: Gómez-Nieto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000469:parasitology; D006197:Hair / Q000469:parasitology*; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008322:Mammals; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast; D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Diagnosis; Hair; Kinetoplast DNA (kDNA); Leishmania infantum; Real Time PCR; Wild reservoirs