title: Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis in Wild Canines (Fox, Jackal, and Wolf) in Northeastern Iran Using Parasitological, Serological, and Molecular Methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although many studies had been conducted on various aspects of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in domestic dogs in the endemic areas of Iran, investigations on CVL in wild canines are rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2012 to 2013 in northeast of Iran where human VL is endemic. Wild canines were trapped around the areas where human VL cases had been previously identified. Wild canines were collected and examined both clinically and serologically using direct agglutination test (DAT). Microscopically examinations were performed in all the seropositive wild canines for the presence of the amastigote form ofLeishmaniaspp. SomeLeishmaniasp. which had been isolated from the spleens of wild canines, were examined analyzed by conventional PCR and sequencing techniques using α-tubulin and GAPDH genes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether, 84 wild canines including foxes (Vulpes vulpes, n=21), Jackals (Canis aureus, n=60) and wolves (Canis lupus, n=3) were collected. Four foxes and seven jackals showed anti-Leishmania infantumantibodies with titers of 1:320-1:20480 in DAT. Furthermore, one fox and one jackal were parasitologically (microscopy and culture) positive andL. infantumwas confirmed by sequence analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed that sylvatic cycle ofL. infantumhad been established in the studied endemic areas of VL in northeastern Iran.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohebali
authors.affiliation: Vector-Borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.
authors.forename: Kourosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arzamani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zabiholah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zarei
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Behnaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akhoundi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Homa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hajjaran
authors.affiliation: Vector-Borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.
authors.forename: Saber
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raeghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mousa
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Motavalli-Haghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elikaee
authors.affiliation: Vector-Borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mousazadeh-Mojarrad
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kakoei
keywords: Canine visceral leishmaniasis; Iran; Wild canines