title: Cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis co-infection in dogs from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: evaluation by specific PCR and RFLP-PCR assays.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During a diagnostic evaluation of canine visceral leishmaniasis (VL), two of seventeen dogs were found to be co-infected by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR (RFLP-PCR) assays were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PCR assays for Leishmania subgenus identification followed by RFLP-PCR analysis in biopsies from cutaneous lesions and the spleen confirmed the presence of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi in those fragments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report reinforces the importance of using serological and molecular techniques in the epidemiological surveillance of canine populations in endemic areas in which both diseases are known to co-exist. In such cases, a reassessment of the control measures is required.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Sistemática Bioquímica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marize Quinhones
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Madeira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ.
authors.forename: Vânia Rita Elias Pinheiro
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Sistemática Bioquímica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Raquel da Silva
authors.initials: Rda S
authors.lastname: Pacheco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004285:Dogs; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000235:genetics*; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan