Molecular Characterization of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Asymptomatic Dogs in North Khorasan, Northeastern Iran
| Author | Roozbeh Taslimian | en |
| Author | Bahar Shemshadi | en |
| Author | Adel Spotin | en |
| Author | Reza Fotouhi Ardakani | en |
| Author | Parviz Parvizi | en |
| Orcid | Bahar Shemshadi [0000-0001-8996-3062] | en |
| Orcid | Adel Spotin [0000-0002-3009-9537] | en |
| Orcid | Reza Fotouhi Ardakani [0000-0003-0383-648X] | en |
| Orcid | Parviz Parvizi [0000-0002-2369-5592] | en |
| Issued Date | 2020-02-02 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Leishmania infantum parasites are the main causative agents of visceral leishmaniasis that threaten a wide range of humans and canines in Iran. Objectives: Our aim was to survey Leishmania parasite species and simultaneous comparison of canine organs in endemic areas for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis using the ITS-rDNA gene, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Methods: In this study, sampling was done with vacuum tubes containing EDTA from blood and sterile swabs from the snout and conjunctiva of asymptomatic sheepdogs (n = 37) using a non-invasive method in north Khorasan, northeastern Iran, from 28 July to 4 August 2018. The DNA of collected samples was extracted, amplified, and sequenced by targeting the ITS-rDNA gene. To demonstrate the taxonomic status of Leishmania spp., sequences were subjected to phylogenetic analysis based on the maximum likelihood method. Results: We obtained 37 samples from asymptomatic dogs of which, 10 dogs were definitely diagnosed with L. infantum and one dog infected with L. tropica. The blood (n = 8) and right conjunctiva (n = 6) samples were the most infected samples. The highest number of infections in dogs was in the age group of 5 - 10 years indicating that this group is more sensitive to visceral leishmaniasis in this region. Conclusions: The current findings indicate that non-invasive sampling and molecular methods are reliable and suitable in the detection of visceral leishmaniasis. This is the first report of the visceral involvement of a shepherd dog with L. tropica in northeastern Iran. The remarkable occurrence of visceral leishmaniasis (29.7%) in asymptomatic sheepdogs reflects a health alert to conduct the surveillance and monitoring of susceptible individuals/reservoirs in the region. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/jjm.100078 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/jjm/articles/100078 | en |
| Keyword | <i>Leishmania infantum</i> | en |
| Keyword | <i>L. tropica</i> | en |
| Keyword | Asymptomatic Dog | en |
| Keyword | Non-Invasive Method | en |
| Keyword | ITS-rDNA | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Molecular Characterization of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Asymptomatic Dogs in North Khorasan, Northeastern Iran | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |