Rattus norvegicus(Rodentia: Muridae) Infected byLeishmania(Leishmania)infantum(syn.Le. chagasi) in Brazil

Abstract

In the present study we surveyed the fauna of phlebotomine sand flies and small mammals in peridomestic areas from a Brazilian municipality where the American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is endemic. A total of 608 female phlebotomine sand flies were captured during nine months in 2009 and 2010. Seven different species were represented with 60% of them being Lutzomyia intermedia and Lu. whitmani, both incriminated vectors of ACL. Lu. longipalpis, a proven vector of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was also captured at high proportion (12.8%). Genomic DNA analysis of 136 species-specific pools of female sand flies followed by molecular genotyping showed the presence of Leishmania infantum DNA in two pools of Lu. longipalpis. The same Leishmania species was found in one blood sample from Rattus norvegicus among 119 blood and tissue samples analysed. This is the first report of Le. infantum in R. norvegicus in the Americas and suggests a possible role for this rodent species in the zoonotic cycle of VL. Our study coincided with the reemergence of VL in Governador Valadares.

Leishmania infection in rodents in Greece

“…Many rodent species, both in the Old World and the New World, have been suggested as possible reservoir hosts for various Leishmania species . In southern European countries, the investigation of involvement of wild rodents in the maintenance of Leishmania in nature is limited.…”

“…However, there were no obvious signs of disease, a fact that could contribute to the role of reservoir of these animals. Consequently, and as these rodents have an average life expectancy between 12 ( M. musculus ) and 24 months ( R. rattus and R. norvegicus ), it may be concluded that they live long enough to maintain the parasite available for a sufficient period of time .…”

Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in dogs in Brazil: epidemiology, co-infection, and clinical aspects

“…At distances of 25-100 m between residences and in areas with forests and streams, important risk factors for human cases and canine leishmaniasis exist and offer greater contact with vectors and wild reservoirs of the parasite (Membrive et al, 2012). The invasion of humans and dogs in forest areas and the presence of rodents and synanthropic animals in peri-domestic environments are the main forms of contact with the LTCan parasite (Alvar et al, 2004;Dantas-Torres, 2007;Lara-Silva et al, 2014).…”

Leishmanioses: o conhecimento dos profissionais de saúde em área endêmica

“…O ciclo biológico do Lutzomyia sp. se inicia com a deposição dos ovos em locais úmidos, ricos em matéria orgânica e de pouca luminosidade, não havendo fase evolutiva na água (1)(2)(3) . Nas Américas, as leishmanioses apresentam duas principais categorias clínicas, associadas a uma gama de sintomas e graus diferentes de severidade: Leishmaniose Visceral (LV) e a Leishmaniose Tegumentar Americana (LTA).…”