Leishmania Infection in Wild Lagomorphs and Domestic Dogs in North-East Spain
Cabezón Ponsoda, Óscar (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Martínez-Orellana, Pamela (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Puig Ribas, Maria (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Baptista, Catarina Jota (Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research)
Gassó, Diana (Universitat de Lleida. Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Agrària)
Velarde, Roser (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Fernández Aguilar, Xavier (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Solano Gallego, Laia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)

Data:	2024
Resum:	Leishmania infantum is a zoonotic protozoan parasite transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. Dogs are the main reservoir for human infections. In recent years, outbreaks of human leishmaniasis have been reported in different regions of Spain associated with the Iberian hare and European rabbit. However, there is a notable scarcity of information regarding L. infantum infection in the European hare and in Northeastern Spain where this species occurs. The present study aimed to assess Leishmania spp. exposure and infection in lagomorphs and sympatric domestic dogs in NE Spain. Results suggest a more important role for the European rabbit than the European hare in the epidemiology of this parasite in NE Spain. 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 Leishmania spp. seroprevalence in rabbits, it becomes relevant to establish surveillance programs for lagomorphs in this region. Leishmania infantum 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 Leishmania transmission has been confirmed. The present study aimed to assess Leishmania 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 L. infantum using an in-house indirect ELISA. PCR analysis targeting Leishmania spp. was performed in spleens from L. europaeus. Antibodies against Leishmania spp. were detected in all the species analyzed. Total sample prevalence was significantly higher in O. cuniculus (27. 9%) than in L. europaeus (2. 0%). Results of the PCR were all negative. The present study expands knowledge about Leishmania infections in free-ranging lagomorphs in the Iberian Peninsula, suggesting a more important role of O. cuniculus 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 Leishmania spp. seroprevalence in rabbits, it becomes imperative to establish surveillance programs for lagomorphs in this region.
Nota:	Altres ajuts: Maria Zambrano post-doctoral program: 709248
Drets:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Llengua:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Matèria:	Canis familiaris ; Catalonia ; Leishmaniosis ; Leishmania infantum ; Lepus europaeus ; Oryctolagus cuniculus ; Seroprevalence ; Wildlife
Publicat a:	Animals, Vol. 14 (april 2024) , ISSN 2076-2615

DOI: 10.3390/ani14071080
PMID: 38612318

9 p, 490.3 KB

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