Serological survey for Leishmania sp. infection in wild animals from the municipality of Maringá, Paraná state, Brazil

Abstract

Leishmania sp. infection was investigated in wild animals from the Ingá Park, in the municipality of Maringá, Paraná state, Brazil, where American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is an endemic disease. Sixty-five mammals, comprising Didelphis albiventris, Cerdocyon thous, Lycalopex vetulus, Cebus apella, Dasyprocta azarae, Dasypus novemcinctus, Procyon cancrivorus and Nasua nasua, were captured. Blood samples were collected for parasite cultivation. Antibodies were investigated by direct agglutination test (DAT) using Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis as antigen. Flagellates were observed in blood cultures of 14 (35.9%) Didelphis albiventris. Anti-Leishmania antibodies were detected in 31 (51.6%) specimens of Cerdocyon thous, Lycalopex vetulus, Cebus apella, Dasyprocta azarae, Procyon cancrivorus and Nasua nasua. These results suggest that Cerdocyon thous and Lycalopex vetulus (crab-eating fox), Cebus apella (capuchin monkey), Dasyprocta azarae (agouti), Procyon cancrivorus (crab-eating raccoon) and Nasua nasua (coati) play an important role in the ACL transmission cycle in the northwestern region of Paraná, Brazil.

Serological Evidence of Infection byLeishmania (Leishmania) infantum(Synonym:Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi) in Free-Ranging Wild Mammals in a Nonendemic Region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil

“…In Brazil, there are previous records of the detection of anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies only in coatis (N. nasua), with a prevalence rate of 50.0% (1/2), also using the DAT, with a cutoff point of 1:10 (Voltarelli et al 2009). The prevalence rate of 4.6% observed in this study for this species would increase to 39.5% (17/43) adopting similar cutoff point of 1:20.…”

“…Studies with opossums and canids in Brazil used the DAT with lower cutoff points, recording seroprevalence rates of 8.1% (9/111) for opossums, with titers of ‡ 40 (Schallig et al 2007) and 35.0% (12/39) with a cutoff point of 1:10 (Voltarelli et al 2009). In the latter study, 100.0% (2/2) of C. thous and L. vetulus were also positive, although the results of culture were negative for these animals.…”

Environmental and Animal Characteristics as Factors Associated with American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Rural Locations with Presence of Dogs, Brazil

“…Despite the lack of a significant association, it should be mentioned that natural infection by Leishmania ( V.) braziliensis has been detected in a rodent of the genus Nectomys [35] in one of the locations studied in the present investigation. In the same region, opossums ( Didelphis albiventris ) with anti- Leishmania antibodies have been detected [17]. In the northern region of Brazil, it was caught opossums ( Didelphis marsupialis ) with lesions and hemoflagellates that could not be characterized and suggest that opossums may be an important link in the transmission of disease as a secondary reservoir of Leishmania (V.) guyanensis [36].…”

Molecular detection of Leishmania spp. in road-killed wild mammals in the Central Western area of the State of São Paulo, Brazil

“…DNA was detected in 1/3 Procyon cancrivorus (crab-eating raccoon). Voltarelli et al [ 33 ] reported the presence of Leishmania antibodies in Procyon cancrivorus in Northwestern Paraná. These findings suggest that these species can act as a reservoir for Leishmania spp.…”