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Investigation of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis Infection in Wild Mammals in Brazil

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Abstract

Purpose

Leishmaniasis are infectious and zoonotic diseases and present in cutaneous and visceral forms. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic and widely distributed throughout the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Several cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans and dogs associated with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis have been reported in the state. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of natural infection by Leishmania(Viannia) braziliensis in wild mammals found dead (by trampling or natural death) in the Sooretama Biological Reserve, Espírito Santo State.

Methods

From January 2018 to December 2019, 60 animals were collected. Of these, 47 animals from 12 different species were analyzed. The results were demonstrated using descriptive analysis of the observations to calculate the absolute and relative frequencies of the data.

Results

In the PCR, using specific primers for the genus Leishmania (D1, D2, and D3) and the species Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis (ISVB/ISVC), 4 positive animals (8.5%) were detected: 1 Cuniculus paca (paca) (25%) and 3 Callithrix geoffroyi (white-faced marmoset) (25%). In the histopathological analysis, the parasitic amastigote form was not observed.

Conclusions

The natural infection, detected by PCR, by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in Cuniculus paca (paca) and Callithrix geoffroyi (white-faced marmoset) constitutes the first report of infection of this rodent and primate species in the literature. Despite the confirmation of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis infection in rodents and primates, the role of these species in the transmission of this zoonosis still needs further observational studies to identify their seasonal variation, transmissibility, infection stability, and the effects of a given parasite on the population and/or individual.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical support of the Laboratory of Animal Morphology and Pathology of the State University of the North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, the EPICONTROL group—Pet Parasite Lab of the Complutense University of Madrid, and the Federal University of Espírito Santo, which had a role in the study design, data collection, and analysis.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific Grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário 16, Guararema, Alegre, Espírito Santo, 29500-000, Brazil

    Henrique Jordem Venial & Louisiane de Carvalho Nunes

  2. Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ana Montoya, Rocío Checa & Guadalupe Miró

  3. Postgraduate in Animal Science, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil

    Gabriel José Silva Uzai

  4. Department of Biology Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espírito Santo, Brazil

    Maria Aparecida da Silva

  5. Department of Morphology, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Renato Luiz Silveira

  6. Laboratory of Animal Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine, State University of the North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Eulógio C. Queiroz de Carvalho

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  1. Henrique Jordem Venial
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  2. Ana Montoya
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Correspondence to Henrique Jordem Venial.

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Venial, H.J., Montoya, A., Checa, R. et al. Investigation of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis Infection in Wild Mammals in Brazil. Acta Parasit. 67, 648–657 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-021-00498-x

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