title: Detection of Leishmania (L.) infantum in stray dogs by molecular techniques with sensitive species-specific primers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a worldwide parasitic zoonosis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum around the world. Canids are the definitive hosts and sand flies the intermediate hosts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that a new species-specific primers (Lch14:Lch15, targeting a multiple alignment for L. infantum kDNA minicircle) is an efficient diagnostic tool for L. infantum.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence of L. infantum DNA was assessed in blood samples of 69 stray dogs using the conventional PCR (cPCR) and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Additional 50 lymph nodes and 50 bone marrow samples (positive and negative samples for parasitological tests) from dogs from endemic and nonendemic areas for CVL were also used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  L. infantum strains, and all positive lymph node and bone marrow samples for parasitological test gave positive results for cPCR and qPCR, presenting analytical sensitivity of ∼100parasite mL-1. For the blood samples, 40/69 (58%; CI 95%; 46%-69%) resulted positive for L. infantum in both tests. All positive samples were confirmed by sequencing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed the importance of the specific detection of L. infantum based on species-specific primers by molecular techniques, highlighting the application as a confirmation method in epidemiological studies and to adopt the best control measures.
authors: a Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine , Mississippi State University , Mississippi State , MS , USA.
authors: Rodrigo C
authors: RC
authors: Silva
authors: b Regional Laboratory of Bauru , Adolfo Lutz Institute , Bauru , Brazil.
authors: Virgínia B
authors: VB
authors: Richini-Pereira
authors: c Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia , Salvador , Brazil.
authors: Mariana
authors: M
authors: Kikuti
authors: d Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science , UNESP Universidade Estadual Paulista , Botucatu , Brazil.
authors: Pâmela M
authors: PM
authors: Marson
authors: d Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science , UNESP Universidade Estadual Paulista , Botucatu , Brazil.
authors: Helio
authors: H
authors: Langoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000469:parasitology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D017931:DNA Primers; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers
keywords: Canine; Leishmania infantum; PCR; kDNA; stray dogs