Leishmania Infection in Wild Lagomorphs and Domestic Dogs in North-East Spain

is a zoonotic protozoan parasite distributed worldwide that is transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. Dogs are the main reservoir for human infections. However, in recent years, the capacity of lagomorphs to contribute to transmission has been confirmed. The present study aimed to assess spp. exposu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animals (Basel) 2024-04, Vol.14 (7), p.1080
Main Authors: Cabezón, Oscar, Martínez-Orellana, Pamela, Ribas, Maria Puig, Baptista, Catarina Jota, Gassó, Diana, Velarde, Roser, Aguilar, Xavier Fernández, Solano-Gallego, Laia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Canis familiaris
Catalonia
Dogs
Epidemics
Epidemiology
Infections
Leishmania infantum
leishmaniosis
Lepus europaeus
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Parasitic diseases
Protozoa
Rabbits
Spleen
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:is a zoonotic protozoan parasite distributed worldwide that is transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. Dogs are the main reservoir for human infections. However, in recent years, the capacity of lagomorphs to contribute to transmission has been confirmed. The present study aimed to assess spp. exposure and infection in lagomorphs and sympatric domestic dogs in NE Spain. Sera from European hares, European rabbits, and rural dogs were tested for antibodies against using an in-house indirect ELISA. PCR analysis targeting spp. was performed in spleens from . Antibodies against spp. were detected in all the species analyzed. Total sample prevalence was significantly higher in (27.9%) than in (2.0%). Results of the PCR were all negative. The present study expands knowledge about infections in free-ranging lagomorphs in the Iberian Peninsula, suggesting a more important role of in the study area. Given the strong correlation between lagomorph densities and human leishmaniasis outbreaks in Spain, the high rabbit and human densities in NE Spain, and the high spp. seroprevalence in rabbits, it becomes imperative to establish surveillance programs for lagomorphs in this region.
ISSN:2076-2615
2076-2615
DOI:10.3390/ani14071080