title: Participation of ticks in the infectious cycle of canine visceral leishmaniasis, in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
abstract: In this study, we detected Leishmania spp. infection in R. sanguineus collected from dogs that were naturally infected with L. (L.) infantum. We examined 35 dogs of both sexes and unknown ages. The infected dogs were serologically positive by the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Quick Test-DPP (Dual Path Platform), as well as parasitological examination of a positive skin biopsy or sternal bone marrow aspiration. Ten negative dogs were included as controls. The ticks that infested these dogs were collected in pools of 10 adult females per animal. The PCR was performed with specific primers for Leishmania spp., which amplified a 720-bp fragment. Of the 35 analyzed samples, a product was observed in eight samples (8/35; 22.9%). We conclude that the presence of parasite DNA suggests that ticks participate in the zoonotic cycle of canine visceral leishmaniasis, in the city of Teresina, Piauí.
authors: Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI).
authors: José Henrique Furtado
authors: JH
authors: Campos
authors: Universidade Federal do Piauí/CCA/DCCV, Campus da Socopo, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors: Francisco Assis Lima
authors: FA
authors: Costa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan