title: Detection of Leishmania DNA in wild foxes and associated ticks in Patagonia, Argentina, 2000 km south of its known distribution area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zoonotic Visceral Leishmaniasis (ZVL) is a vector-borne disease affecting humans and other mammals and caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum (syn. L. chagasi), belonging to the L. donovani complex. The regions in Northern Argentina (above 32 °S) are its southern distribution limit in South America.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We detected Leishmania sp. DNA (most likely belonging to the L. donovani complex) in 37.5% of 32 grey foxes (Pseudalopex griseus) captured in Argentinean Patagonia (48°S and 50°S). Eleven monosexual pools of Amblyomma tigrinum ticks from eight different foxes (six grey foxes and two culpeo foxes P. culpaeus) were also positive. The southernmost known distribution limit for L. infantum, and the southernmost reported capture of a phlebotominae, had previously been 2000 and 750 km north of our study area, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding is significant because it markedly extends the distribution area of leishmaniasis; supports the existence of a sylvatic cycle in the absence of dogs; and has implications in transmission, indicating that either sand fly distribution is broader than currently thought or non-sand fly Leishmania maintenance is possible. Additional molecular, parasitological, epidemiological and entomological studies are still needed.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile. syngamustrachea@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Millán
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Puerto Deseado, UNPA-CONICET, CC 238, 9050, Puerto Deseado, Santa Cruz, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Travaini
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology, University of Turin, Grugliasco, TO, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zanet
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Biodiversity (UO/CSIC/PA), Oviedo University, Mieres, Spain.|Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), SE-730 91, Riddarhyttan, Sweden.
authors.forename: José Vicente
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: López-Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology, University of Turin, Grugliasco, TO, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trisciuoglio
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology, University of Turin, Grugliasco, TO, Italy.
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferroglio
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC, Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005589:Foxes / Q000469:parasitology*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Kinetoplastida; Leishmania infantum; Lycalopex culpaeus; Lycalopex griseus; Sylvatic cycle; Wildlife