Determination the Role of Rhipicephalus sanguineus for Transmission of Leishmania major to Reservoir Animals

Abstract

üzerinde beslenmesini takiben, doymuş larvalar ve uygun koşullarda gömlek değiştiren larvalardan elde edilen aç nimflerden oluşan toplam 65 kene havuzu oluşturulmuştur. Bu havuzlar polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu (PZR) ve gerçek zamanlı PZR (RT-PCR) testi ile L. major yönünden test edilmiştir. Bulgular: Enfekte edilerek, üzerine Rh. sanguineus larvası konulan gerbil, tüm kenelerin düşmesini takiben uyutulmuş ve nekropsisi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yapılan incelemelerde, gerbilin tüm iç organ ve dokularında amastigotlara rastlanmıştır. Rh. sanguineus doymuş larvalarının beslenmeleri esnasında paraziti alıp almadıkları ve bir sonraki nimf aşamasına aktarıp aktarmadıklarının test edilmesi amacıyla yapılan PZR ve RT-PCR sonucunda kene havuzlarının hiçbirisinde L. major'a rastlanılmamıştır. Sonuç: Çalışma neticesinde her ne kadar kenelerde etkenler tespit edilemese de, leishmaniasis ile ilişkili deneysel çalışmalarda asıl rezervuar olan köpeklerin kullanılması vektörlük potansiyeli yüksek olan insekt ve akarlar için daha net sonuçlar verebilecektir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Gerbil, Leishmania major, nakil, Rhipicephalus sanguineus Geliş Tarihi: 24.05.2016Kabul Tarihi: 06.10.2016 ABSTRACTObjective: This study aimed to explore the role of Rhipicephalus sanguineus in the transmission of Leishmania major, the etiological agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods: Ten gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were infected with promastigotes of L. major, and 10 gerbils were maintained as controls. In a controlled environment, 2000 R. sanguineus larvae were fed to two gerbils. Following feeding to gerbils, 65 tick pools were prepared from the engorged larvae and molted unfed nymphs. These pools were tested for the presence of L. major using polymerase chain reaction and real time (RT) PCR. Results: One of the infected gerbil was anesthetized and necropsied following the dropping of all fed larvae. Following the examination, amastigotes were detected in all organs and tissues. PCR and RT-PCR were performed to test whether the engorged R. sanguineus larvae successfully took the parasite while feeding and was able to transmit it to the next nymphal stage; however, none of the tick pools were found to be positive for L. major. Conclusion: Although L.major was not detected in ticks that fed on gerbils, using dogs in experimental studies related to leishmaniasis will give clearer results in terms of detecting the potential role of insects and acars.

First detection of Leishmania DNA in ticks collected from domestic and wild animals in Algeria

“…In a previous study under laboratory conditions, the PCR performed to detect Leishmania major in unfed Rhipicephalus sanguineus nymphs molted from larvae fed on infected Gerbils Meriones unguiculatus was negative (Bilgic et al 2017). To the best of our knowledge, Leishmania major is detected here in naturally infected ticks for the first time.…”

PCR-positivity of gerbils and their ectoparasites for Leishmania spp. in a hyperendemic focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in central Iran

“…Meriones unguiculatus were examined by RT-PCR. The results showed that none of the pools was infected with L. major [33]. The study conducted in Turkey could yield more precise results if it used the main reservoirs related to study potency of ticks in the transmission of parasites.…”

PCR Positivity of Gerbils and Their Ectoparasites for Leishmania Spp. in a Hyperendemic Focus of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Central Iran

“…In another study in Turkey, to investigate the presence of L. major , the pools of R. sanguineus ticks on Meriones unguiculatus Milne-Edwards, 1867 were examined by RT-PCR. The results showed that none of the pools was infected with L. major ( 36 ). However, in this study the main reservoir has not been tested for the potency of ticks in the transmission of L. major .…”