Browsing by Subject "Leishmania"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Clinical, diagnostic and epidemiological implications of Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp. and Leishmania infantum infection in cats and dogs in a Mediterranean periurban setting
    (Springer, 2023-01) Ortuño, María; Bernal, Ana; Nachum Biala, Yaarit; Muñoz, Clara; Risueño, José; Ortiz Sánchez, Juana; Baneth, Gad; Berriatua, Eduardo; Sanidad Animal
    Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp. and Leishmania infantum are common parasites of dogs in Mediterranean countries and are less frequent in cats, particularly Babesia spp. and L. infantum. Moreover, there is limited information on coinfections between these parasites and on L. infantum’s distribution in blood, skin and lymphoid tissue in cats. We used PCR and DNA sequencing to investigate the prevalence of these parasites and the aetiology of Hepatozoon spp. and Babesia spp., in blood, skin, spleen and lymph node samples from up to 212 stray cats and 82 abandoned dogs in southeast Spain. All except 2 dogs were healthy; instead, 112 cats had clinical signs. The estimated PCR prevalences (95% confidence interval) were 25% (19–31%) Hepatozoon felis in cats, 13% (6–21%) Hepatozoon canis in dogs, 1% (0–4%) Babesia vogeli in dogs, 0% Babesia spp. in cats and 21% (15–26%) and 44% (33–55%) L. infantum in cats and dogs, respectively, and infections were not associated with each other. Leishmania infantum prevalence in lymphoid tissue was significantly higher in dogs than in cats (p < 0.001), and dogs had higher parasite loads than cats (p = 0.012). Moreover, L. infantum prevalence was significantly higher in the skin and lymphoid tissue compared to blood in infected, asymptomatic animals but it was similar in cats with clinical signs, which also had higher parasite loads compared to infected, asymptomatic cats (p < 0.05). The study highlights significant differences between sympatric dogs and cats with respect to the parasite infections investigated, as well as the need to examine both lymphoid tissue and skin samples to maximise the sensitivity of L. infantum infection diagnosis.
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    Conferencia: 'Vacunas genéticas frente a Leishmania'
    (2011-04-08) Urbina, Luis
    Conferencia: 'Vacunas genéticas frente a Leishmania', a cargo de Manuel Carlos López López. Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, Granada. Facultad de Veterinaria. Campus de Espinardo.
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    Cutaneous leishmaniasis in a patient receiving infliximab
    (Taylor and Francis Group, ) Hernández Torres, Alicia; García Vázquez, Elisa; Frías Iniesta, José; Herrero Martínez, José Antonio; Gómez Gómez, Joaquín; Medicina
    Abstract Leishmaniasis is endemic in the Mediterranean region, and the prevalence of latent infection in this area is high. Treatment with tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists represents a major breakthrough in the treatment of several infl ammatory diseases, including psoriasis. Reports describing opportunistic leishmaniasis in European patients treated with TNF- α antagonist drugs are rapidly accumulating. We describe a case of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a patient treated with infl iximab and corticosteroids.
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    Density assessment and reporting for Phlebotomus perniciosus and other sand fy species in periurban residential estates in Spain
    (2021-09) Muñoz Hernández, Clara; Risueño Iranzo, José; Pérez Cutillas, Pedro; Bernal Gambín, Luis Jesús; Ortiz Sánchez, Juana; Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Sánchez-López, P.F.; Martínez Carrasco-Pleite, Carlos; Del Río Alonso, Laura; De la Rúa Tarín, Pilar; García Martínez, Juan Diego; Murcia, Laura; Collantes Alcaraz, Francisco; Spitzova, T.; Elshanat, S.; Berriatua Fernández de Larrea, Eduardo; Goyena Salgado, Elena; Gonzálvez Juan, Moisés; Sanidad Animal
    Green periurban residential areas in Mediterranean countries have flourished in the last decades and become foci for leishmaniasis. To remedy the absence of information on vector ecology in these environments, we examined phlebotomine sand fly distribution in 29 sites in Murcia City over a 3-year period, including the plots of 20 detached houses and nine non-urbanized sites nearby. We collected 5,066 specimens from five species using "sticky" interception and light attraction traps. The relative frequency of the main Leishmania infantum vector Phlebotomus perniciosus in these traps was 32% and 63%, respectively. Sand fly density was widely variable spatially and temporally and greatest in non-urbanized sites, particularly in caves and abandoned buildings close to domestic animal holdings. Phlebotomus perniciosus density in house plots was positively correlated with those in non-urbanized sites, greatest in larger properties with extensive vegetation and non-permanently lived, but not associated to dog presence or a history of canine leishmaniasis. Within house plots, sand fly density was highest in traps closest to walls. Furthermore, the study provides a guideline for insect density assessment and reporting and is envisioned as a building block towards the development of a pan-European database for robust investigation of environmental determinants of sand fly distribution.
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    Diagnostic usefulness of immunohistochemical evaluation of CD1a antigen and polyclonal antiLeishmania antibodies in cutaneous Leishmaniasis
    (Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2021) Lopez-Trujillo, Emilio; Gonzàlez-Farré, Mònica; Pujol, Ramon M.; Bellosillo, Beatriz; Fisa, Roser; Riera, Cristina; Alcover, Magdalena; Barranco, Carlos; Martin-Ezquerra, Gemma
    Background. Different immunohistochemical markers to detect amastigotes in cutaneous Leishmaniasis have been proposed with variable diagnostic usefulness. Objectives. To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of immunohistochemical amastigotes identification by specific polyclonal anti-Leishmania antibodies and CD1a expression (clone EP3622) in a series of PCR confirmed cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Materials and methods. Thirty-three skin samples corresponding to PCR confirmed cutaneous Leishmaniasis were included in the study. All samples were stained with Hematoxylin-eosin and Giemsa. Moreover, immunohistochemical studies with anti-CD1a and anti-Leishmania antibodies were performed. The patients clinical features and the observed histopathological features were also recorded. Results. From the selected 33 biopsies, Leishmania spp. amastigotes were detected in 48.4% of cases with conventional Hematoxylin-eosin stain and in 57.5% of cases by Giemsa staining. In 31/33 cases, anti-CD1a allowed us to identify parasitic structures, and in 33/33 cases amastigotes were detected with anti-Leishmania antibodies. Concordance between both techniques, antiCD1a and anti-Leishmania, was 94% [CI 95%: (79,8%- 99,3%)]; p value <0.05. The sensitivity of anti-CD1a in comparison with the PCR was 94%, with a positive predictive value of 100%. Two cases of low parasitic index were negative for CD1a immunostaining. In cases with high parasitic index, anti-CD1a stained amastigotes in superficial and deep dermis. Only a few cases were originally diagnosed with the available histological techniques, needing PCR for Leishmania spp. identification. Conclusions. Anti-CD1a antibody seems to be a useful technique to identify amastigotes when PCR and anti-Leishmania antibodies are not available. The sensitivity to detect amastigotes is increased when the CD1a immunostaining is added to the classical Haematoxylin – eosin and Giemsa staining.
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    Questionnaire survey on Canine Leishmaniosis in southeastern Spain
    (Elsevier B.V., 2009) Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Del Río Alonso, Laura; Martínez Carrasco-Pleite, Carlos; Segovia, M.; Cox, J.; Davies, C.; Berriatua Fernández de Larrea, Eduardo; Sanidad Animal
    A veterinary practitioner’s questionnaire survey on Canine Leishmaniosis (CanL) was carried out in southeast Spain to provide information on disease incidence, diagnosis and recommended preventive measures. A third of 101 responding veterinarians reported seeing more than 20 CanL cases during the previous year and clinical signs considered frequent or very frequent included weight loss, areas of exfoliative dermatitis, lymphadenomegaly, kidney dysfunction, onychogryphosis, cutaneous ulcers, anaemia, asthenia and apathy. Almost a third of veterinarians reported diagnosing CanL solely on the basis of lack of response to treatment for other chronic illnesses. The frequency of individual signs did not always reflect their diagnostic value. Themajority of veterinarians, considered lymphadenomegaly, exfoliative dermatitis, onychogryphosis, weight loss and epistaxis to be the best disease indicators. However, up to 93% of veterinarians reported using laboratory tests to confirm infection, including indirect (biochemical and antibody assays) and direct (PCR and microscopy) methods. Among recommended measures to prevent CanL, insecticide impregnated collars and topical spot-on capsules were prescribed by 92% and 74% of respondents; however, at least 11% of veterinarians believed existing CanL preventive measures were ineffective. Multivariable statistical analysis indicated that seeing more than 20 CanL cases during the previous year was independently associated with being located in Alicante province, having a rural clientele and recognising that dogs with no other sign but a lack of response to other chronic disease treatments may be infected with CanL. There was a weak association between CanL incidence and rainfall in the months prior to typical sandfly peak abundance.
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    The role of sloths and anteaters as Leishmania spp. reservoirs: a review and a newly described natural infection of Leishmania mexicana in the northern anteater
    (Springer, 2019-02-15) Muñoz-García, Claudia Irais; Sánchez-Montes, Sokani; Villanueva-García, Claudia; Romero-Callejas, Evangelina; Díaz-López, Hilda M.; Gordillo-Chávez, Elías J.; Martínez-Carrasco Pleite, Carlos; Berriatua Fernández de Larrea, Eduardo; Sanidad Animal; Facultad de Veterinaria
    For years, mammals of the order Pilosa have been considered Leishmania reservoirs. But while most studies have focused on sloth species, anteaters have been overlooked, and in many Leishmania endemic countries like Mexico, no studies have been carried out. The aims of this work were to identify the presence of Leishmania spp. in tissue samples from road-killed northern tamanduas (Tamandua mexicana), using PCR amplification and sequencing of ITS1 DNA, and to discuss the role of Pilosa mammals as reservoirs of Leishmania based on available scientific records. This is the first study that identifies Leishmania in T. mexicana, from 1 of 16 individuals analyzed, so the estimated prevalence (CI 95%) of infection was 6.3% (0.3–27.2). Amplified sequence exhibited a 98.9% (727/735) similarity with L. mexicana, and phylogenetic analysis grouped the species in the L. mexicana-amazonensis cluster. The literature review revealed 241 cases of Leishmania spp. infection among 1219 Pilosa mammals evaluated, with prevalence between studies ranging from 3.5% in the brown-throated three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) to 78% in the Hoffman’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni). Current scientific information indicates that C. hoffmanni sloths are reservoirs of Leishmania, and further studies are needed in order to clarify if other Pilosa species play a role in Leishmania transmission.