Detection of anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies in sylvatic lagomorphs from an epidemic area of Madrid using the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test |
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| Authors: | Inmaculada Moreno Julio Álvarez Nerea García Santiago de la Fuente Irene Martínez Eloy Marino Alfredo Toraño Joaquin Goyache Felipe Vilas Lucas Domínguez Mercedes Domínguez |
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| Institution: | 1. Área de Inmunología, Unidad de Inmunología Microbiana e Inmunogenética, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Mahadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain;2. Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain;3. Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;4. Dirección General de Ordenación e Inspección, Consejería de Sanidad de la Comunidad de Madrid, 28001 Madrid, Spain;5. Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain |
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| Abstract: | An outbreak of human leishmaniosis was confirmed in the southwest of the province of Madrid, Spain, between July 2009 and December 2012. Incidence of Leishmania infection in dogs was unchanged in this period, prompting a search for alternative sylvatic infection reservoirs. We evaluated exposure to Leishmania in serum samples from animals in the area with an indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT). Using promastigotes from six culture passages and a 1/25 threshold titer, we found anti-Leishmania infantum seroreactivity in 9.3% of cats (4 of 43), 45.7% of rabbits (16/35) and 74.1% of hares (63/85). Use of promastigotes from >10 in vitro passages resulted in a notably IFAT lower titer, suggesting antigenic changes during extended culture. Postmortem inspection of seropositive animals showed no clinical signs of infection. The results clearly suggest that asymptomatic hares were the main reservoir in the outbreak, and corroborate IFAT as a sensitive serological surveillance method to detect such cryptic Leishmania infections. |
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| Keywords: | Leishmaniosis Immunofluorescence Incidental reservoirs Hare Promastigote epitope expression |
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