Cryptic Leishmaniosis by Leishmania infantum, a feature of canines only? A study of natural infection in wild rabbits, humans and dogs in southeastern Spain

Chitimia, Lidia; Muñoz-García, Claudia I.; Sánchez-Velasco, D.; Lizana, Víctor; Rı́o, Laura Del; Murcia, Laura; Fisa, Roser; Riera, Cristina; Font, Pablo Giménez; Jiménez-Montalbán, P; Martínez‐Ramírez, Amparo C.; Meseguer-Meseguer, J.M.; García-Bacete, I.; Sánchez-Isarria, M.A.; Sanchis-Monsonís, Gloria; García-Martínez, J.D.; Vicente, Vânia Aparecida; Segovia, Manuel; Berriatua, E.

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.04.016

Cited by 67 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…epitopes was, on average, two titer steps lower than to that L. infantum , showing a preferential antibody response to epitopes of the infecting species. Our results are in contrast with a previous study performed in wild rabbits in southeastern Spain, in which a seroprevalence of 0% was estimated analyzing 36 plasma samples with a modified commercial ELISA, although one animal was positive using direct PCR on tissues [32]. The seroprevalence in rabbits found in this population was also higher than that recently described in the outbreak area (45.7%) with the same serological test used here [24].…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 99%

Evidence ofLeishmania infantumInfection in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a Natural Area in Madrid, Spain

Garcı́a¹,

Moreno

Álvarez

et al. 2014

BioMed Research International

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Leishmaniasis is one of the most important neglected zoonosis and remains endemic in at least 88 developing countries in the world. In addition, anthropogenic environmental changes in urban areas are leading to its emergency world wide. Zoonotic leishmaniasis control might only be achieved by an integrated approach targeting both the human host and the animal reservoirs, which in certain sylvatic cycles are yet to be identified. Recently, hares have been pointed out as competent reservoirs of Leishmania infantum in Spain, but the role of other lagomorphs has not been clarified. Here, 69 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from a natural area in Madrid in which a high density was present were analyzed using indirect (immunofluorescence antibody test, IFAT) and direct (PCR, culture) techniques. Fifty-seven (82.6%) of the animals were positive to at least one technique, with IFAT yielding the highest proportion of positive samples. L. infantum was isolated in 13% animals demonstrating the occurrence of infection in this setting. Our results suggest that rabbits could play a role of competent reservoir of L. infantum and demonstrate that the prevalence of infection is high in the analyzed area.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 99%

Evidence ofLeishmania infantumInfection in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a Natural Area in Madrid, Spain

Garcı́a¹,

Moreno

Álvarez

et al. 2014

BioMed Research International

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“…We found a seroprevalence rate of 1.7z, which was similar to that found in the Murcia region (40), but lower than that in Castile-Leon (4.9z) (41). However, unlike these other regions, in Extremadura this infection is more common in urban areas, perhaps because of the growing number of pet-owning families (42), in which both the young and elderly people keep close contact with animals (43).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Seroprevalence Survey of Zoonoses in Extremadura, Southwestern Spain, 2002–2003

Asencio¹,

Herráez

Tenias³

et al. 2015

Jpn J Infect Dis

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SUMMARY: Our aims were to determine the seroprevalence rates for the most common types of zoonosis among the population of Extremadura (southwestern Spain) and to identify the associated risk factors. We conducted a seroepidemiological survey to collect information on family background and the habits of people residing in Extremadura between 2002 and 2003. Antibodies to Brucella were determined by Rose Bengal staining and a standard tube agglutination test; a titer of 1/80 was considered to be positive. Antibody titers for spotted fever, leishmaniasis, echinococcosis, and toxoplasmosis were determined by enzyme-immunoassays. Independent risk factors identified were age (younger age for brucellosis), male gender (brucellosis, spotted fever, and toxoplasmosis), occupation and contact with animals (brucellosis and spotted fever for those in contact with goats, hydatidosis for those in contact with sheep, leishmaniasis for those in contact with dogs, and toxoplasmosis for those in contact with cats and pigs), and consuming contaminated food (brucellosis by eating fresh cheese, hydatidosis by eating homemade sausages, and toxoplasmosis by eating pork). Except for leishmaniasis, the other zoonoses were more prevalent in rural areas, and, with the exception of brucellosis, they were all more prevalent in Badajoz. The distribution of zoonoses in Extremadura was strongly influenced by keeping livestock and eating habits. Thus, brucellosis was more prevalent in Caceres (associated with cheese consumption), while toxoplasmosis (pork consumption) and spotted fever (from hunting) were more common in Badajoz.

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“…The main domestic animal reservoirs of Leishmania in Europe are dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris ; WHO Technical Report Series 949, ). However, rabbits and hares ( Leporidae ) have also been reported to act as a competent reservoir (Chitimia et al, ; García et al, ) and were recently found to be the source of infection during an important (and still active) outbreak in Spain (Jiménez, González, Martín‐Martín, Hernández, & Molina, ; Molina et al, ; Moreno et al, ) involving 752 human cases from 2009 to 2018 (Dirección General de Salud Pública, Community of Madrid, personal communication). This is the largest outbreak of human leishmaniosis ever officially reported in Western Europe.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A pathological study ofLeishmania infantumnatural infection in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis)

García

Salguero

Rodríguez‐Bertos

et al. 2019

Transbound Emerg Dis

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In this study, we describe the pathology of Leishmania infantum infection in naturally infected wild Leporidae and compare diagnosis of infection using histopathology, direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) assay, immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR). Tissues were analysed from 52 European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and 7 Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis) from the Community of Madrid (Spain). Our results show that L. infantum infection is associated with only minimal histopathological lesions and that L. infantum amastigotes can be detected by DFA assay in all tissues types tested, including skin. These results were confirmed by qPCR on fresh frozen tissues in 13% of rabbits and 100% of hares. However, L. infantum DNA could not be detected by qPCR on paraffin‐embedded tissue obtained by laser capture microdissection. Using the DFA assay to diagnose L. infantum, infection may provide further insights into this disease in wild animals and may allow the precise tissue localization of L. infantum, thereby guiding follow‐up tests with more accurate qPCR.

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Cryptic Leishmaniosis by Leishmania infantum, a feature of canines only? A study of natural infection in wild rabbits, humans and dogs in southeastern Spain

Cited by 67 publications

References 21 publications

Evidence ofLeishmania infantumInfection in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a Natural Area in Madrid, Spain

Evidence ofLeishmania infantumInfection in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a Natural Area in Madrid, Spain

Seroprevalence Survey of Zoonoses in Extremadura, Southwestern Spain, 2002–2003

A pathological study ofLeishmania infantumnatural infection in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis)

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Cryptic Leishmaniosis by Leishmania infantum, a feature of canines only? A study of natural infection in wild rabbits, humans and dogs in southeastern Spain

Cited by 67 publications

References 21 publications

Evidence ofLeishmania infantumInfection in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a Natural Area in Madrid, Spain

Evidence ofLeishmania infantumInfection in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a Natural Area in Madrid, Spain

Seroprevalence Survey of Zoonoses in Extremadura, Southwestern Spain, 2002&ndash;2003

A pathological study ofLeishmania infantumnatural infection in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis)

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Seroprevalence Survey of Zoonoses in Extremadura, Southwestern Spain, 2002–2003