Experimental infection of the Opossum didelphis albiventris (Marsupialia, didelphidae) with Leishmania donovani

Sherlock, Ítalo Rodrigues de Araújo; Miranda, José Carlos; Sadigursky, Moysés; Júnior, Gabriel Grimaldi

doi:10.1590/s0074-02761988000100019

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…albiventris was the first non canidae mammal to be shown naturally infected with Le. chagasi in the American Continent (Sherlock et al 1984(Sherlock et al , 1988a. Soon after, several infected D. marsupialis were diagnosed with the same leishmania in endemic focus of Colombia (Corredor et al 1989).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The data I have obtained on laboratory and field observations over the last 35 five years about the ecology of visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Bahia are wholly presented in this paper, although papers on some aspects of the natural history of visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Bahia have already been published by other authors or by myself and collaborators (Pessoa et al 1955, Lopes & Sarno 1956, Sherlock 1964, Sherlock & Santos 1964, Sherlock l969, Sherlock & Almeida 1969, Sherlock & Guitton 1969a,b, Sherlock & Almeida 1970, Teixeira 1980, Sherlock et al 1984, Badaró et al 1986a,b, Barral et al 1986, Badaró 1988, Sherlock 1987, Sherlock et al 1988a,b, Sherlock & Miranda 1992, Cunha et al 1995.…”

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confidence: 98%

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Ecological interactions of visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Bahia, Brazil

Sherlock

1996

Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz

168

112

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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confidence: 98%

Ecological interactions of visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Bahia, Brazil

Sherlock

1996

Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz

168

112

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“…In early studies, the role of Didelphis albiventris as a reservoir of L. infantum was unclear due to low rate of natural infections and discreet histopathological findings [4,13] . Subsequently, works with Didelphis marsupialis showed that it can exhibit a different infection pattern, with significant tissue parasitism and tissue lesions as well as high percentages of natural infections [3,5,13-15].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Subsequently, works with Didelphis marsupialis showed that it can exhibit a different infection pattern, with significant tissue parasitism and tissue lesions as well as high percentages of natural infections [3,5,13-15]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taking into account the several records related to natural infections of opossums with L.infantum in the New World, if we consider the six extant species of the genus Didelphis that are: D.virginiana, D.pernigra, D.imperfecta, D.aurita, D.albiventris and D.marsupialis [10,18,19], apparently only the last two have been described as natural hosts of the parasite, indicating a need for studies that evaluate the role of other species in the epidemiology of AVL [5,13-15,20] . Nevertheless, a very important point to be considered is the need of a correct classification of the species investigated, because the host’s behavior and its interplay with the habitat are key factors that determine the epidemiological characteristics of the AVL in a specific place.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Natural infection of Didelphis aurita (Mammalia: Marsupialia) with Leishmania infantum in Brazil

et al. 2012

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BackgroundThe opossum Didelphis have been considered as natural hosts of Leishmania parasites in the New World, suggesting an important role in the epidemiology of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). Among six extant species that belong to the genus Didelphis, only two (D. marsupialis and D. albiventris), have been mentioned as natural hosts of Leishmania infantum in Brazil and Colombia. In the present paper, it is reported for the first time, the observation of intracellular parasites (amastigotes) in tissues of Didelphis aurita naturally infected with Leishmania infantum in Brazil. We also discuss some aspects associated to the relationship between L. infantum and the geographical distribution of some species of the genus Didelphis.MethodsThe opossums studied were caught by wire traps (Tomahawk) in Barra de Guaratiba, a peri-urban area in Rio de Janeiro. The opossums were killed with an overdose of Thiopental sodium.At necropsy, macroscopic alterations were examined and samples from liver, spleen, lymph nodes, ear, abdominal skin, scent glands and bone marrow were collected for parasitological and molecular diagnoses.ResultsForty-eight opossums were captured in an AVL endemic region, 30 being caught in a mangrove area and eighteen animals in a forest area near to some residential-yards. Among the thirty opossums trapped in the mangrove area, all of them were negative by both imprint and sera samples assayed on Dipstick Tests, that is a test based on a combination of protein-A colloidal gold conjugate and rk39 Leishmania antigen to detect anti-Leishmania antibody in serum or plasma. At the macroscopic examination one out of eighteen opossums, caught close to the forest, presented alterations compatible with spleen hypertrophy and three were positive by Dipstick Tests (16.6%) and presented amastigotes in the spleen and in one of them, the parasites were also observed in a submandibular lymph node. Leishmania infantum infections were confirmed through dot blot hybridization using a L. infantum-specific biotinylated probe.ConclusionsIn the present paper we present the first report of amastigotes in the tissues of Didelphis aurita (Mammalia: Marsupialia) naturally infected with Leishmania infantum. We also attempt to claim the particular role of some opossum species as hosts of Leishmania infantum, contributing at least in part on the description of potential sylvatic reservoirs.

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