Epidemiological and genetic studies suggest a common Leishmania infantum transmission cycle in wildlife, dogs and humans associated to vector abundance in Southeast Spain

Risueño, José María Bermúdez de Castro; Ortuño, María; Pérez‐Cutillas, Pedro; Goyena, E.; Maia, Carla; Cortes, Sofia; Campino, Lenea; Bernal, Luis J.; Muñoz, Clara; Arcenillas, I.; Martínez-Rondán, F.J.; Gonzálvez, Moisés; Collantes, Francisco; Ortiz, Juana; Martínez‐Carrasco, Carlos; Berriatua, E.

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.05.012

Cited by 39 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Restriction fragment length polymorphism was less discriminating than SNP genotyping, but it was similarly able to group L. infantum variants specific to humans (genotypes T and F), humans and dogs (genotype S) and those present in humans, dogs and wildlife (genotype B). Leishmania infantum genotypes B and F appear to be widespread in humans in Europe and Latin America (Cortes et al, ; da Silva et al, ; Risueño et al, ; Schönian et al, ). The former was also found in foxes in Murcia (Risueño et al, ) but herein described for the first time in dogs from Spain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Leishmania infantum genotypes B and F appear to be widespread in humans in Europe and Latin America (Cortes et al, ; da Silva et al, ; Risueño et al, ; Schönian et al, ). The former was also found in foxes in Murcia (Risueño et al, ) but herein described for the first time in dogs from Spain. Genotype F was detected here among HVL and HCL patients of similar age (adults) and different nationalities (Spanish and non‐Spanish), and also in two immunocompromised HVL Portuguese patients, one HCL case in France (Cortes et al, from Blaineau, Bastien, & Pagès, ; Cortes et al, ) and in one Leishmania chagasi (syn.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Whilst the dog is the main reservoir host of the parasite in the domestic environment, humans are considered an accidental host (Otranto et al, ; Quinnell & Courtenay, ). Moreover, other mammals, including a wide range of wildlife, have been molecularly diagnosed as L. infantum ‐positive (Del Río et al, ; Millán, Ferroglio, & Solano‐Gallego, ; Risueño et al, ). However, clinical signs are rarely reported in wildlife and most infected individuals have low parasite loads.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The above genotypes have been also related with the human patients' immunological status, with genotypes A and B being more commonly found in immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals, respectively (Cortes et al, ). In a recent study, Risueño et al () assigned L. infantum from seven foxes from Murcia Region in south‐east Spain, to RFLP genotype B, which is the most frequent in humans from Spain, Brazil and Morocco and in dogs from the latter two countries. The detection in this study of common genotypes among parasites from dogs, humans and wildlife, coupled with spacially matching CanL and HumL and vector distributions, suggested a common epidemiological cycle of infection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships between Leishmania infantum from dogs, humans and wildlife in south‐east Spain

Ortuño

Latrofa

Iborra

et al. 2019

Zoonoses and Public Health

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Leishmania infantum causes human and canine leishmaniosis. The parasite, transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies, infects species other than dogs and people, including wildlife, although their role as reservoirs of infection remains unknown for most species. Molecular typing of parasites to investigate genetic variability and evolutionary proximity can help understand transmission cycles and designing control strategies. We investigated Leishmania DNA variability in kinetoplast (kDNA) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences in asymptomatically infected wildlife (n = 58) and symptomatically and asymptomatically infected humans (n = 38) and dogs (n = 15) from south‐east Spain, using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and in silico restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses. All ITS2 sequences (n = 76) displayed a 99%–100% nucleotide identity with a L. infantum reference sequence, except one with a 98% identity to a reference Leishmania panamensis sequence, from an Ecuadorian patient. No heterogeneity was recorded in the 73 L. infantum ITS2 sequences except for one SNP in a human parasite sequence. In contrast, kDNA analysis of 44 L. infantum sequences revealed 11 SNP genotypes (nucleotide variability up to 4.3%) and four RFLP genotypes including B, F and newly described S and T genotypes. Genotype frequency was significantly greater in symptomatic compared to asymptomatic individuals. Both methods similarly grouped parasites as predominantly or exclusively found in humans, in dogs, in wildlife or in all three of them. Accordingly, the phylogenetic analysis of kDNA sequences revealed three main clusters, two as a paraphyletic human parasites clade and a third including dogs, people and wildlife parasites. Results suggest that Leishmania infantum genetics is complex even in small geographical areas and that, probably, several independent transmission cycles take place simultaneously including some connecting animals and humans. Investigating these transmission networks may be useful in understanding the transmission dynamics, infection risk and therefore in planning L. infantum control strategies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships between Leishmania infantum from dogs, humans and wildlife in south‐east Spain

Ortuño

Latrofa

Iborra

et al. 2019

Zoonoses and Public Health

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“…Recently, L. infantum DNA was diagnosed by PCR in skin samples from three wolves ( Canis lupus ) and one brown bear ( Ursus arctos ) from the Murcia city wildlife park, in south‐east Spain (Ortuño et al, ; Risueño et al, ). The area is L. infantum endemic, and the estimated PCR prevalence was 67% in dogs (Chitimia et al, ), 32% in free wildlife (mostly foxes, rabbits and rodents) (Risueño et al, ) and 8% in human blood donors (Pérez‐Cutillas et al, ). Since it was not possible to collect samples for L. infantum diagnosis from a representative number of the animals in the park, we investigated the abundance, L. infantum infection prevalence and bloodmeal sources of sand flies in the park.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular xenomonitoring and host identification of Leishmania sand fly vectors in a Mediterranean periurban wildlife park

Muñoz

Puente

Figuerola

et al. 2019

Transbound Emerg Dis

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The epidemiological cycle of zoonotic phlebotomine‐borne Leishmania infantum is a complex system in which domestic animals and wildlife interact and participate in its maintenance and transmission. In this study, we combined entomological surveillance, xenomonitoring of L. infantum and identification of host feeding sources of engorged females to investigate the potential contribution of a periurban wildlife park to leishmaniosis in neighbouring residential areas. Overall, 7,309 sand flies were collected in 111 trap‐days during the summers of 2016–2018 in an endemic area in south‐east Spain. Five different sand fly species were captured, with Phlebotomus perniciosus, the main L. infantum vector in this region, representing the most common species. Sand fly distribution was spatially heterogeneous in terms of species, sexes and female physiological stage (unfed, gravid and engorged females) and related to host distribution and management, and environmental features. None of the 602 sand flies analysed for L. infantum infection by kinetoplast real‐time PCR were positive. We used molecular tools to identify the vertebrate hosts of sand flies and identified 17 host species, mainly mammals. Human DNA was not identified in engorged sand flies. This study provides evidence that wildlife parks in south‐east Spain are ideal grounds for sand fly vectors but do not necessarily increase L. infantum infection risk to humans and dogs living in surrounding residential areas. This is probably because vectors feed mostly on non‐L. infantum competent hosts and this should be investigated for a better understanding of the contribution of wildlife parks to the local epidemiology of L. infantum.

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Leishmania infantum infection in European badgers (Meles meles) from northeastern Spain: a histopathological and immunohistochemical investigation

Peris,

Martínez-Durán,

García

et al. 2024

Parasitol Res

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The European badger (Meles meles) is a common mustelid species known as a significant reservoir for various human and animal diseases. Studies investigating Leishmania infection in European badgers across Mediterranean regions have yielded inconsistent findings. In Spain, results are particularly controversial: some studies confirm the presence of Leishmania in badgers, while others do not. Our study aimed to conduct a retrospective histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis to detect Leishmania in tissues of nine European badgers from northeastern Spain, a region previously unevaluated for Leishmania infection in this species. Microscopic examination revealed lesions indicative of leishmaniosis in the lymph nodes and spleens of six badgers. In one of them, Leishmania-like structures were identified in multiple organs and confirmed via immunohistochemistry. Parasites were detected in the lymph nodes, spleen, adrenal glands, and pancreas. The parasite load was high in the adrenal glands, moderate in the lymph nodes and spleen, and low in the pancreas. No parasites were found in other examined organs. This finding represents a frequency of 11.11% (1/9) of Leishmania infection among the badgers we studied. Further investigation of wildlife and atypical reservoirs can enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of this significant zoonotic disease.

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Epidemiological and genetic studies suggest a common Leishmania infantum transmission cycle in wildlife, dogs and humans associated to vector abundance in Southeast Spain

Cited by 39 publications

References 33 publications

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships between Leishmania infantum from dogs, humans and wildlife in south‐east Spain

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships between Leishmania infantum from dogs, humans and wildlife in south‐east Spain

Molecular xenomonitoring and host identification of Leishmania sand fly vectors in a Mediterranean periurban wildlife park

Leishmania infantum infection in European badgers (Meles meles) from northeastern Spain: a histopathological and immunohistochemical investigation

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