title: First report of autochthonous non-vectorial canine leishmaniasis in New Caledonia, south-western Pacific: implications for new control measures and recommendations on importation of dogs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Canine leishmaniasis (CanL), a parasitic zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania infantum and usually transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies, has rarely been reported in Pacific islands, which have been regarded until now as leishmaniasis-free territory. Here, we report the first autochthonous CanL case in New Caledonia (south-western Pacific) and the investigations carried out 1) to determine how infection was introduced into and transmitted among these dogs and 2) to assess the risks to animal and public health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Extensive epidemiological and entomological investigations in and around the focus were carried out. Leishmaniasis infection was confirmed by histopathology, indirect fluorescent antibody test, real-time PCR, and culture. Parasite strain was typed by the isoenzymatic technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey revealed close contacts between the autochthonous dog and two infected bitches imported from Spain, but failed to find any possible vector or disease spreading to other animals or humans. L. infantum zymodeme MON-1, the most frequent type in the Mediterranean basin, was identified. Although transplacental and venereal transmissions could not be excluded, the evidence was in favour of non-vectorial, direct dog-to-dog transmission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study corroborates the possibility of non-vectorial routes (transplacental, venereal, and direct dog-to-dog) of canine leishmaniasis transmission in New Caledonia and raises the debate of relevant test requirements and diagnostic sensitivity prior to importation of dogs in Leishmania-free regions. New leishmaniasis control measures and recommendations to avoid future CanL introduction on the island are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Cabinet Vétérinaire du Regain, Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie. ndaval@mls.nc.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Daval
authors.affiliation: Service des Laboratoires Officiels Vétérinaires, Agro-alimentaires et Phytosanitaires de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, LNC-DAVAR, Païta, Nouvelle-Calédonie. celinemarchal@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchal
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur de Nouvelle-Calédonie, IPNC, Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie. lguillaumot@pasteur.nc.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guillaumot
authors.affiliation: Institut Agronomique néo-Calédonien, « Connaissance et amélioration des agrosystèmes », Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Païta, BP 73, 98890, Nouvelle-Calédonie. hue@iac.nc.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hüe
authors.affiliation: Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie-CHU de Montpellier, Centre National de Référence des Leishmanioses, Montpellier, France. christophe.ravel@univ-montp1.fr.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ravel
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Départemental Vétérinaire de l'Hérault, Montpellier, LDV 34, France. nkeck@herault.fr.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.affiliation: Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l'Alimentation, de l'Environnement et du Travail, ANSES, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie-94701, Maisons-Alfort, Cedex, France. mohamed.kasbari@anses.fr.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasbari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009510:New Caledonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes