Molecular survey of Leishmania spp. in skin samples of capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from different areas of Brazil

Leishmaniases comprise a spectrum of diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, with some species of rodents being incriminated as reservoirs. The capybara is the largest extant rodent species in the world and is widely distributed in South America. The occurrence of infection by Leishmania spp. was investigated in capybaras captured in Brazil during 2015–2019 from established populations in five highly anthropic areas of the state of São Paulo and two natural areas of the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. A total of 186 individuals were captured and subjected to abdominal skin biopsy. All skin samples were Leishmania kDNA-negative, suggesting that capybaras have no role in the transmission cycles of Leishmania species in the studied areas despite the well-known role of other rodents in the life cycle of Leishmania spp. As leishmanioses compreendem um espectro de doenças causadas por protozoários do gênero Leishmania e algumas espécies de roedores são incriminadas como reservatórios de Leishmania spp. As capivaras compreendem a maior espécie de roedores existentes e são amplamente distribuídas na América do Sul. Para investigar a ocorrência de infecção por Leishmania spp. em capivaras, durante os anos de 2015-2019 capivaras foram capturadas em cinco áreas antrópicas do estado de São Paulo e em duas áreas naturais dos estados do Mato Grosso e do Mato Grosso do Sul, todos esses ambientes com populações de capivaras estabelecidas. Um total de 186 indivíduos foram capturados e submetidos à biópsia de pele abdominal. Todas as amostras de pele foram negativas para o alvo kDNA, assim, os dados sugerem que nas áreas estudadas as capivaras não têm papel no ciclo de transmissão de espécies de Leishmania spp., apesar do papel bem conhecido de outros roedores no ciclo de vida de Leishmania spp

Leishmania infantum AS A CAUSATIVE AGENT OF CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS IN THE STATE OF MATO GROSSO DO SUL, BRAZIL

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is caused by different species of theLeishmania genus. Leishmania(Leishmania) infantum, causing cutaneous leishmaniasis, has been described in patients living in areas where visceral leishmaniasis is endemic. In this study, it was possible to characterize this species in seven slides from cutaneous tissue imprints from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Comparative genomics of canine-isolated Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis from an endemic focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Governador Valadares, southeastern Brazil

Leishmaniasis is a highly diverse group of diseases caused by kinetoplastid of the genus Leishmania. These parasites are taxonomically diverse, with human pathogenic species separated into two subgenera according to their development site inside the alimentary tract of the sand fly insect vector. The disease encompasses a variable spectrum of clinical manifestations with tegumentary or visceral symptoms. Among the causative species in Brazil, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis is an important etiological agent of human cutaneous leishmaniasis that accounts for more than 8% of all cases in endemic regions. L. (L.) amazonensis is generally found in the north and northeast regions of Brazil. Here, we report the first isolation of L. (L.) amazonensis from dogs with clinical manifestations of visceral leishmaniasis in Governador Valadares, an endemic focus in the southeastern Brazilian State of Minas Gerais where L. (L.) infantum is also endemic. These isolates were characterized in terms of SNPs, chromosome and gene copy number variations, confirming that they are closely related to a previously sequenced isolate obtained in 1973 from the typical Northern range of this species. The results presented in this article will increase our knowledge of L. (L.) amazonensis-specific adaptations to infection, parasite survival and the transmission of this Amazonian species in a new endemic area of Brazil

Avaliação da infecção por Leishmania spp. em pequenos mamíferos de áreas endêmicas de Minas Gerais, Brasil |

Submitted by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-06-18T19:01:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_DIP_AgnesAntoniaSampaioPereira (2).pdf: 3979166 bytes, checksum: 17d10f25aaa6a7bb5ceb08f07a44820c (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-06-18T19:01:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_DIP_AgnesAntoniaSampaioPereira (2).pdf: 3979166 bytes, checksum: 17d10f25aaa6a7bb5ceb08f07a44820c (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-06-18T19:01:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_DIP_AgnesAntoniaSampaioPereira (2).pdf: 3979166 bytes, checksum: 17d10f25aaa6a7bb5ceb08f07a44820c (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-18T19:01:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_DIP_AgnesAntoniaSampaioPereira (2).pdf: 3979166 bytes, checksum: 17d10f25aaa6a7bb5ceb08f07a44820c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.O conhecimento dos reservatórios de Leishmania spp. é crucial para o estabelecimento de medidas eficientes de controle das leishmanioses. A detecção, identificação da espécie de Leishmania bem como a quantificação da carga parasitária em diferentes amostras de animais podem ser ferramentas úteis na indicação da participação de um determinado hospedeiro como fonte de infecção para os vetores. Neste trabalho foi realizado um estudo sobre a infecção por Leishmania spp. em roedores e marsupiais em áreas endêmicas para as leishmanioses de Minas Gerais. As amostras utilizadas foram provenientes de pequenos mamíferos capturados em cinco localidades: Regional Nordeste de Belo Horizonte, Município de Divinópolis, Terra Indígena Xakriabá no Município de São João das Missões, Barra do Guaicuí em Várzea da Palma e Casa Branca, localidade pertencente ao Município de Brumadinho. A detecção e quantificação do DNA de Leishmania foram realizadas através da Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR) e PCR em tempo real (qPCR) direcionadas ao alvo kDNA e a identificação da espécie através da PCR-RFLP direcionada ao hsp70. Foram capturados animais pertencentes a 14 diferentes espécies, das ordens Rodentia e Didelphimorfia. Os resultados mostraram que, em geral, a maioria dos animais foi capturada em áreas não urbanizadas e a maioria dos espécimes pertencem a ordem Rodentia. Dos 346 animais examinados, 78 (22%) foram positivos em pelo menos um tecido. A maior positividade foi observada na Terra Indígena Xakriabá (35%), seguido pela Regional Nordeste de Belo Horizonte (27%), Casa Branca (24%), Divinópolis (9%) e Barra do Guaicuí (8%). Quanto às espécies de animais, Thrichomys apereoides e Didelphis albiventris tiveram um número expressivo de exemplares capturados (76 e 113 respectivamente) e uma positividade considerada alta (28% e 19%). Com relação aos tecidos, o fígado apresentou maior positividade (14%), seguido por medula (9%), baço (6%), pele de orelha (5%) e pele de cauda (4%). Nas amostras dos animais foram identificadas as espécies L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (L). infantum e L. (V.) guyanensis, sendo que a primeira foi encontrada infectando um maior número e uma maior diversidade de espécies de animais. Os animais capturados na Terra Indígena Xakriabá apresentaram a carga parasitária mais elevada, e, com relação às espécies dos hospedeiros, T. apereoides foi o que apresentou a maior carga parasitária. Quanto aos tecidos, houve uma alta positividade em amostras de fígado enquanto as amostras de baço apresentaram uma alta carga parasitária, o que aponta para a importância desses órgãos na infecção dos pequenos mamíferos por Leishmania spp.. A pele de orelha se mostrou eficiente na detecção das três espécies de Leishmania encontradas. Os resultados obtidos, aliados ao conhecimento epidemiológico da área, mostraram a importância da participação deste animais no ciclo de transmissão de Leishmania nas áreas endêmicas estudadas. Esses dados ressaltam a necessidade de mais estudos a respeito destas diferentes espécies de mamíferos, possíveis reservatórios de Leishmania spp., visando a implementação de novas estratégias de vigilância epidemiológica e aplicação de medidas de controle específicas, tanto para leishmaniose tegumentar como para leishmaniose visceral.The knowledge about the reservoir of Leishmania spp. is crucial to establish the efficient leishmaniasis control measures. The detection, identification of the Leishmania species and the parasite burden quantification in different clinical animal samples can be useful tools to indicate the participation of a certain host as a source of infection to the vectors. In this work it was done a study about the infection by Leishmania spp. in rodents and marsupials in leishmaniasis endemic areas in Minas Gerais. The used samples were from small mammals captured in five localities: the Northeast Region of Belo Horizonte, the municipality of Divinópolis, the Xakriabá Indian Reservation in the municipality of São João das Missões, Barra do Guaicuí in the municipality of Várzea da Palma and Casa Branca, placed in the municipality of Brumadinho. The detection and quantification of the Leishmania DNA was done through the Polimerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeted to the kDNA and the identification of the species through the PCR-RFLP targeted to the hsp70. Animals from 14 different species of the orders Rodentia and Didelphimorfia were captured. The results showed that, in general, most of the animals were captured in non urbanized areas and most of the specimens belong to the Rodentia order. From the 346 tested animals, 78 (22%) were positive in at least one tissue. The higher positivity was observed in the Xakriabá Indian Reservation (35%), followed by the Northeast Region of Belo Horizonte (27%), Casa Branca (24%), Divinópolis (9%) and Barra do Guaicuí (8%). Related to the animal species, Thrichomys apereoides and Didelphis albiventris had an expressive number of captured specimens (76 and 113 respectively) and a high positivity (28% and 19%). About the tissues, the liver had the higher positivity (14%), followed by bone marrow (9%), spleen (6%), ear skin (5%) and tail skin (4%). In the animals samples were identified the species L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (L). infantum and L.(V.) guyanensis, wherein the first was found infecting a higher number and a higher diversity of animals species. The captured animals in the Xakriabá Indian Reservation showed a more elevated parasite burden and, related to the host species, T. apereoides showed the higher parasite burden. About the tissues, there was a high positivity in liver samples as the spleen samples showed a high parasite burden, which points to the importance of these organs for the infection of small mammals by Leishmania spp. The ear skin was efficient in the detection of the three Leishmania species found. The obtained results, allied to the area epidemiologic knownledge, showed important participation of these animals in the Leishmania cicle transmission in the studied endemic areas. These data show the need of more researches about these different mammals species, possible Leishmania reservoirs, seeking the implementation of new epidemiological surveillance srtatetegies and the aplliance of specific control measures to the cutaneous leishmaniasis as well to the visceral leishmaniasis

Mixed infection of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis in rodents from endemic urban area of the New World

Submitted by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2016-02-25T17:02:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Mixed infection of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis in rodents from endemic urban area of the New World.pdf: 5842580 bytes, checksum: 3e0c063f3713e67c7c8fe7ef0cd646b3 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2016-02-25T17:10:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Mixed infection of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis in rodents from endemic urban area of the New World.pdf: 5842580 bytes, checksum: 3e0c063f3713e67c7c8fe7ef0cd646b3 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-25T17:10:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mixed infection of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis in rodents from endemic urban area of the New World.pdf: 5842580 bytes, checksum: 3e0c063f3713e67c7c8fe7ef0cd646b3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Mato Grosso do Sul. Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis. Servicio de Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Microbiología. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madri, Espanha.WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis. Servicio de Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Microbiología. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madri, Espanha.Fundação Ezequiel Dias. Diretoria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento. Serviço de Biologia Molecular e Bioinformática. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Sete Soluções e Tecnologias Ambientais. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Prefeitura de Belo Horizonte. Secretaria de Saúde de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Sete Soluções e Tecnologias Ambientais. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Departamento de Biologia Geral. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.BACKGROUND: In Brazil Leishmania braziliensis and L. infantum are the principal species responsible for cutaneous and visceral leishmaniases, respectively. Domestic dogs are the main reservoirs of visceral leishmaniasis, while rodents and marsupials are the main reservoirs for cutaneous leishmaniasis. It has also been suggested that dogs could play a role in transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The identification of the species of Leishmania, the reservoirs, and the vectors involved in each particular transmission cycle is critical for the establishment of control activities. Belo Horizonte has emerged as an endemic region for leishmaniases, however, epidemiological studies assessing the contribution of wild reservoirs to transmission are scarce in the area. The aim of this study was to investigate Leishmania spp. infection in possible reservoirs of an urbanized area. RESULTS: A high rate of infection was found in small mammals (64.9%) and dogs (DG1 30.4% and DG2 48.6%). The presence of L. infantum and L. braziliensis was detected in small mammals and dogs, and mixed infections by both species were detected in rodents which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first description of this phenomenon in an urban area. Additionally, L. amazonensis was detected in the canine samples. CONCLUSION: The possible role of these animals as a source of infection of the vector of each species of Leishmania identified should not be overlooked and should be taken into account in future control activities. The results of mixed infection by L. braziliensis and L. infantum in cosmopolitan rodents as M. musculus and R. rattus, may have important implications in the context of the control of leishmaniasis in urban areas, especially when considering that these rodents live in close relationship with human dwellings, especially those in more precarious condition

Detection of Leishmania spp in silvatic mammals and isolation of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis from Rattus rattus in an endemic area for leishmaniasis in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Submitted by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2018-03-08T16:22:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Detection of Leishmania spp in silvatic mammals and isolation.pdf: 1846602 bytes, checksum: 348f1838c4726ca0973e910d4069ccc4 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2018-03-08T16:27:31Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Detection of Leishmania spp in silvatic mammals and isolation.pdf: 1846602 bytes, checksum: 348f1838c4726ca0973e910d4069ccc4 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-08T16:27:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Detection of Leishmania spp in silvatic mammals and isolation.pdf: 1846602 bytes, checksum: 348f1838c4726ca0973e910d4069ccc4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz Mato Grosso do Sul. Campo Grande, MS, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Departamento de Biologia Geral. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilKnowledge of potential reservoirs of Leishmania spp. in an anthropic environment is important so that surveillance and control measures can be implemented. The aim of this study was to investigate the infection by Leishmania in small mammals in an area located in Minas Gerais, Brazil, that undergoes changes in its natural environment and presents autochthonous human cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). For the capture of the animals, Sherman and Tomahawk traps were used and distributed in the peridomicile of houses with reports of autochthonous cases of CL or VL. Six catches were carried out on two consecutive nights with intervals of two months during one year and samples of spleen, liver, tail skin, ear skin and bone marrow of the animals were obtained. Parasitological and molecular methods were used to detect the infection. Identification of the Leishmania species was performed by PCR RFLPhsp70. Twenty five animals of four species were captured: ten Rattus rattus, nine Didelphis albiventris, five Cerradomys subflavus and one Marmosops incanus. In the PCR-hsp70, five animals were positive (20%). The Leishmania species identified in PCR-RFLPhsp70 were: Leishmania braziliensis in D. albiventris (2), C. subflavus (1) and R. rattus (1) and Leishmania infantum in R. rattus (1). The highest positivity rate for L. braziliensis was obtained in the liver samples. The spleen was the only tissue positive for L. infantum. It was isolated in culture medium L. braziliensis from two samples (liver and spleen) of R. rattus. This is the first record of isolation of L. braziliensis from R. rattus in the southeastern region of Brazil. These results are relevant to the knowledge of the epidemiology of leishmaniasis in the region, mainly in the investigation of the presence of hosts and possible reservoirs of the parasite

Survey of Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in an Environmentally Protected Area in Brazil.

Submitted by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2016-02-29T13:50:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Survey of Sand Flies.pdf: 485619 bytes, checksum: f8d45630b2b8a572a9f83ac70b93519c (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2016-02-29T13:54:19Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Survey of Sand Flies.pdf: 485619 bytes, checksum: f8d45630b2b8a572a9f83ac70b93519c (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-29T13:54:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Survey of Sand Flies.pdf: 485619 bytes, checksum: f8d45630b2b8a572a9f83ac70b93519c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilBrazil is one of the most important endemic areas for leishmaniasis worldwide. Protected areas that are tourist attractions likely present an important risk of transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Furthermore, with the geographical expansion of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), several studies have recorded the occurrence of its vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis, and cases of human and canine VL in such tourist areas. The Parque Estadual do Sumidouro is an environmentally protected area located in the Brazilian Cerrado biome and in an important area endemic for leishmaniasis in the state of Minas Gerais. The purpose of this study was to monitor the sand fly fauna in areas of tourist activity in the park. Sampling was performed every month, from September 2011 to August 2013, using CDC light traps at six sites of differing environmental characteristics. Sampled specimens were identified following Galati (2003), and females were submitted to molecular techniques for the detection and identification of Leishmania DNA. A total of 4,675 sand fly specimens of 25 species belonging to nine genera were collected. The most abundant species were Micropygomyia quinquefer, Lutzomyia renei and Pintomyia pessoai, although only Pi. pessoai is implicated in the transmission of Leishmania braziliensis. The species accumulation curve reached saturation on the 16th sampling event. Species richness, diversity and evenness differed among the sampled areas. The seasonal curve was not determined by a single unique species, and no single species was the most abundant in all environments sampled. The main vector of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum, Lutzomyia longipalpis, accounted for only 5.35% of the specimens collected. Proven or suspected vectors of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis were recorded, and one female of the cortellezzii complex tested positive for Le. braziliensis DNA. Even with a low infection rate (0.62%), these data indicate the circulation of the parasite and reinforce the need for entomological and epidemiological surveillance in the park and its surroundings

Leishmania infantum AS A CAUSATIVE AGENT OF CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS IN THE STATE OF MATO GROSSO DO SUL, BRAZIL

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is caused by different species of theLeishmania genus. Leishmania(Leishmania) infantum, causing cutaneous leishmaniasis, has been described in patients living in areas where visceral leishmaniasis is endemic. In this study, it was possible to characterize this species in seven slides from cutaneous tissue imprints from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil