Genetic and clinical characterization of canine leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in northeastern Argentina.
Leishmaniases comprise zoonotic diseases caused by protozoan flagellates of the Leishmania genus. They are endemic to South America, and the visceral form has been recently reported in Argentina. Dogs can play different roles in the Leishmania transmission cycles, depending mainly on the species of parasite involved. Here we focused on the clinical characterization of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) in Northeast Argentina and on the molecular typing of its etiological agent. The nested polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis of the Leishmania cytochrome b (cyt b) gene was performed on DNA templates purified from lymph nodes, bone marrow or spleen aspirates obtained from 48 dogs previously diagnosed by the observation of Leishmania amastigotes on smears from these aspirates. Their clinical and epidemiological data were also recorded. Systemic abnormalities were observed in 46 subjects (95.8%), most frequently lymphadenopathy, and emaciation (89.6 and 75%). Furthermore, 87% also presented tegumentary abnormalities, such as alopecia (54.2%) or secondary skin lesions (47.9%), among others. Twenty three dogs were positive for cyt b amplification. The sequence analysis showed the presence of two genotypes, LiA1 and LiA2, assigned to Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum, with 99.9 and 100% homology with the reference strain MHOM/TN/80/IPT1 respectively. LiA1 was identified in 18 cases (78.3%) and LiA2 in five (21.7%). Two cyt b variants of L. (L.) infantum were incriminated as the causative agents of CanL cases from three cities: Posadas, Garupá, and Ituzaingó. All three cities are located in the northeastern area of the country, where these parasites seem to be spreading in urban areas.
Instituto de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bolivia 5150, A4408FVY Salta, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, Sede Regional Orán, UNSa, Alvarado 751, A4530ANQ San Ramón de la Nueva Orán, Argentina. Electronic address: paobarar@yahoo.com.ar.
Paola A
PA
Barroso
Veterinaria del Oeste, Lavalle 257, N3300ONN Posadas, Argentina. Electronic address: cecilianevot@yahoo.com.ar.
M Cecilia
MC
Nevot
Instituto de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, Sede Regional Orán, UNSa, Alvarado 751, A4530ANQ San Ramón de la Nueva Orán, Argentina. Electronic address: carloslhoyos@gmail.com.
Carlos L
CL
Hoyos
Department of Parasitology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko, Nankoku, 783-8505 Kochi, Japan. Electronic address: fm.locatelli@gmail.com.
Fabricio M
FM
Locatelli
Instituto de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bolivia 5150, A4408FVY Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: juanjoselauthier@gmail.com.
Juan J
JJ
Lauthier
Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires / CONICET, Paraguay 2155, C1121ABG Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: pruybal@gmail.com.
Paula
P
Ruybal
Coordinación de Gestión Epidemiológica, Ministerio de Salud Pública, Centro Cívico Grand Bourg, 4400 Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: cardozo_rm@yahoo.com.ar.
Rubén M
RM
Cardozo
Veterinaria del Oeste, Lavalle 257, N3300ONN Posadas, Argentina. Electronic address: veterinariorusso@hotmail.com.
Pablo D
PD
Russo
Veterinaria del Oeste, Lavalle 257, N3300ONN Posadas, Argentina. Electronic address: laboratoriomisiones@hotmail.com.
Carola N
CN
Vassiliades
Instituto de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bolivia 5150, A4408FVY Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: mariaceliamora@yahoo.com.ar.
María C
MC
Mora
Veterinaria del Oeste, Lavalle 257, N3300ONN Posadas, Argentina. Electronic address: octavioes2003@yahoo.com.ar.
J Octavio
JO
Estévez
Department of Parasitology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko, Nankoku, 783-8505 Kochi, Japan; Centro de Biomedicina, Universidad Central del Ecuador y Proyecto Prometeo, SNESCYT, Sodiro N14-121 e Iquique, Quito, Ecuador. Electronic address: hasiguti@kochi-u.ac.jp.
Yoshihisa
Y
Hashiguchi
Department of Parasitology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko, Nankoku, 783-8505 Kochi, Japan. Electronic address: korenaga@kochi-u.ac.jp.
Masataka
M
Korenaga
Instituto de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bolivia 5150, A4408FVY Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: basombri@unsa.edu.ar.
Miguel A
MA
Basombrío
Instituto de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bolivia 5150, A4408FVY Salta, Argentina; Cátedra de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, UNSa, Bolivia 5150, A4408FVY Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: diegomarcoar@gmail.com.
Jorge D
JD
Marco
D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015047:Zoonoses
Argentina; Canine; Cytochrome b; Dog; Leishmania infantum; Typing