First molecular detection and identification of Leishmania species in small wild rodents from Turkey

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease infecting animals and humans. Two clinical forms (Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis) and four species are reported to be present in Turkey. Several studies have investigated canine and human leishmaniasis in Turkey but no study was performed to screen the infection among wild rodents, so far. The present study aims to investigate the role of small wild rodents as reservoir animals for Leishmania spp. in different regions of Turkey. Formalin-preserved tissue samples (spleen, liver, lung) of 712 rodents from 30 provinces were screened for the presence of Leishmania spp. DNA. Before DNA extraction, tissues were dried, rehydrated, and homogenated. Leishmania screening in rodent tissues and species determination was performed with a combination of real-time kDNA and ITS1 polymerase chain reaction protocols. Eight (1.12%) out of 712 animals were found to be positive for Leishmania spp. DNA and species typing revealed five L. infantum, two L. tropica and one L. major among positives. Leishmania major and L. infantum DNA were detected in Apodemus spp. from Zonguldak province located in the Western Black Sea Region, while L. tropica DNA was found in Meriones sp. and Gerbillus dasyurus from Adana and Hatay provinces located in Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey. The present study is first to report natural infection of L. infantum, L. major and L. tropica in small wild rodents in Turkey, suggesting their possible roles as reservoirs. Further studies are needed for planning epidemiological studies and also for developing rodent control measures in risky endemic areas to break the transmission cycle.

The current epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia and implications for disease emergence in European countries

“…Leishmania spp. prevalence in 712 wild rodents from 30 provinces analysed by PCR in spleen, liver and lung samples was 1.12% (Karakuş et al, 2020). Species typing revealed five L. infantum , two L. tropica and one L. major .…”

“…However, in Turkey L. major in rodents has so far only been detected in Apodemus spp. mice whose role as primary reservoirs of L. major has not been demonstrated (Karakuş et al, 2020). This is an issue that requires further investigation given that Apodemus spp.…”

Transmission patterns of Leishmania tropica around the Mediterranean basin: Could Morocco be impacted by a zoonotic spillover?

“…More recently, natural infection with L . tropica was reported from small wild rodents of Turkey [ 54 ]. In Israel, Rock hyraxes ( Procavia capensis ) are now considered as a reservoir [ 55 ].…”

“…This implies that they could easily circulate the parasite while being asymptomatic. More recently, natural infection with L. tropica was reported from small wild rodents of Turkey [54]. In Israel, Rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis) are now considered as a reservoir [55].…”

Distribution of Rodent Species (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Zonguldak Province, Turkey

“…The taxonomy and distribution of rodents have been investigated in Anatolia for several purposes, such preparing inventory lists (Yiğit et al, 2006;Kryštufek & Vohralík, 2009;Burgin et al, 2020), wildlife management (Gür, 2016;Çetintaş et al, 2017;Yiğit et al, 2021), collecting zoogeographical data Yiğit et al, 2003), making taxonomical evaluations (Albayrak and Arslan, 2006;Çolak et al, 2007), determining rodent-borne diseases (Çelebi et al, 2015;Polat et al, 2019Polat et al, , 2020Usluca et al, 2019;Karakuş et al, 2020), and preparing distribution maps (Kryštufek & Vohralík, 2005Yiğit et al, 2003Yiğit et al, , 2006, etc. According to such studies, 65 rodent species have been recorded in Turkey (Osborn, 1964;Felten et al, 1971;Kumerloeve, 1975;Doğramacı, 1989;Kurtonur et al, 1996;Özkan & Kryštufek, 1999;Gözcelioğlu et al, 2005;Kryštufek & Vohralík, 2005Çolak et al, 1997, 2004, 2006Yiğit et al, 2003Yiğit et al, , 2006Yiğit et al, , 2016Özkurt & Bulut, 2020).…”