Molecular studies on Leishmania infantum from cats in Brazil with novel insights about its transmission route

IF 1.4 Q3 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports Pub Date : 2025-08-17 DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101330

Nathalia Frigo de Almeida Paula , Diogo Tiago Silva , João Augusto Franco Leonel , Maria Fernanda Alves-Martin , Julia Cristina Benassi , Andreina de Carvalho Araujo , Trícia Maria Ferreira de Sousa Oliveira

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Leishmania spp. are protozoan parasites responsible for zoonotic diseases known as leishmanioses. These parasites are primarily transmitted by infected sandflies; however, alternative transmission routes, such as vertical and venereal transmission, have been documented in humans and dogs. This study investigated the presence of Leishmania DNA in the reproductive organs of domestic cats in an area endemic for visceral leishmaniosis (VL). Conjunctival swabs from 302 cats, and reproductive tissues from 41 of these animals (34 males and 7 females) were analyzed by PCR targeting the kDNA and ITS1 regions of Leishmania. Positive samples underwent Sanger sequencing for species confirmation and phylogenetic analysis. In considering various samples tested, Leishmania DNA was detected in a total of three cats (1.0 %; 3/302), the three cats were positive for the PCR of reproductive tissue, while only two of them for the PCR of conjunctival swabs. Sequencing revealed high similarity (99.3–100 %) with L. infantum sequences obtained from humans hosts, and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the sequenced samples clustered within the L. infantum clade. Although the frequency of positive cats was low, these results suggest the presence of L. infantum in the reproductive organs of cats, highlighting the need for further investigation into non-vector transmission routes in this species.

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巴西猫幼利什曼原虫的分子研究及其传播途径的新见解

利什曼原虫是一种原虫寄生虫，可导致被称为利什曼病的人畜共患疾病。这些寄生虫主要由受感染的白蛉传播；然而，在人类和狗中也有其他传播途径，如垂直传播和性传播。本研究调查了内脏利什曼病（VL）流行地区家猫生殖器官中利什曼原虫DNA的存在。对302只猫的结膜拭子和其中41只猫（34只公猫和7只母猫）的生殖组织进行了针对利什曼原虫kDNA和ITS1区域的PCR分析。阳性样本进行Sanger测序进行物种确认和系统发育分析。在各种检测样本中，共有3只猫检出利什曼原虫DNA(1.0%; 3/302)，其中3只猫生殖组织PCR阳性，而结膜拭子PCR阳性的只有2只。测序结果显示，该菌株与从人类宿主中获得的婴儿乳杆菌序列高度相似（99.3 - 100%），系统发育分析证实，测序样本聚集在婴儿乳杆菌进化支中。虽然阳性猫的频率很低，但这些结果表明，在猫的生殖器官中存在婴儿乳杆菌，强调需要进一步调查该物种的非媒介传播途径。

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来源期刊

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports Multiple-

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

7.10%

发文量

126

审稿时长

97 days

期刊介绍： Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports focuses on aspects of veterinary parasitology that are of regional concern, which is especially important in this era of climate change and the rapid and often unconstrained travel of people and animals. Relative to regions, this journal will accept papers of the highest quality dealing with all aspects of disease prevention, pathology, treatment, epidemiology, and control of parasites within the field of veterinary medicine. Also, case reports will be considered as they add to information related to local disease and its control; such papers must be concise and represent appropriate medical intervention. Papers on veterinary parasitology from wildlife species are acceptable, but only if they relate to the practice of veterinary medicine. Studies on vector-borne bacterial and viral agents are suitable, but only if the paper deals with vector transmission of these organisms to domesticated animals. Studies dealing with parasite control by means of natural products, both in vivo and in vitro, are more suited for one of the many journals that now specialize in papers of this type. However, due to the regional nature of much of this research, submissions may be considered based upon a case being made by the author(s) to the Editor. Circumstances relating to animal experimentation must meet the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals as issued by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (obtainable from: Executive Secretary C.I.O.M.S., c/o W.H.O., Via Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland).