Kinetics of the humoral immune response (IFAT) in <i>Thrichomys laurentius</i> experimentally infected by <i>Leishmania braziliensis</i> (Lb) or <i>Leishmania infantum</i> (Li).

<p>Each point represents the mean value and standard errors of the IgG titers of infected rodents.</p

Kinetics of albumin and total protein levels and albumin/total protein ratio in a <i>Leishmania infantum</i> infected <i>Thrichomys laurentius</i> (7548).

<p>Day 0 indicate the values obtained before the experimental infection.</p

Kinetics of white blood cell counts in <i>Thrichomys laurentius</i> experimentally infected by <i>Leishmania braziliensis</i> (Lb) or <i>Leishmania infantum</i> (Li).

<p>Each point represents the mean values and standard errors. The * indicates the significant difference between values obtained from non-infected rodents (day 0) and and rodents infected by <i>L. braziliensis</i>.</p

Detection of <i>Leishmania</i> sp. DNA by polimerase chain reaction (PCR) in different tissues sampled from <i>Thrichomys laurentius</i> experimentally infected by <i>Leishmania braziliensis</i> or <i>Leishmania infantum</i> between months 3 and 12 post infection.

<p>Each point represents the number of positive/total PCR reactions observed for all tissue samples in the different experimental batches.</p><p>mpi. months post infection.</p

Photomicrographs of spleen and liver sections from <i>Leishmania braziliensis</i> or <i>L. infantum</i> infected rodents stained with haematoxylin-eosin.

<p>A: <i>L. braziliensis</i>-infected golden hamster (<i>Mesocricetus auratus</i>) 3 months post infection (mpi) – spleen revealed extensive necrosis and inflammation. Note necrotic focus containing amastigotes (arrows). B: <i>L. braziliensis</i>-infected <i>Thrichomys laurentius</i> (7289) 3 mpi – spleen showing architecture of red and white pulp, lack of parasites; C: <i>L. infantum</i>-infected <i>T. laurentius</i> (7548) 12 mpi (liver culture tissue positive) – panoramic view of the liver showing typical architecture with portal (PV) and central vein (CV); D: <i>L. infantum</i>- infected <i>T. laurentius</i> (7538), 12 mpi (liver culture tissue negative) – also illustrated liver showing normal architecture; E: <i>L. infantum</i>-infected <i>T. laurentius</i> (7548), 12 mpi (liver culture tissue positive) – overview of white and red pulp from spleen; F: <i>L. infantum</i>-infected <i>T. laurentius</i> (7538), 12 mpi (liver culture tissue negative) – also illustrated spleen overview of red and white pulp.</p

Kinetics of red blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels in <i>Thrichomys laurentius</i> experimentally infected by <i>Leishmania braziliensis</i> (Lb) or <i>Leishmania infantum</i> (Li).

<p>Each point represents the mean value and standard errors. The continuous lines indicate the normal range defined by the medium values obtained for each group one-day before the inoculum and two-fold standard errors. The * indicates the significant difference between rodents infected either by <i>L. braziliensis</i> or <i>L. infantum</i>.</p

Silver-stained electrophoresis polyacrylamide gel obtained from the sensitivity test for detecting <i>Leishmania</i> sp. DNA with a constant concentration of human DNA (100 ng).

<p>1: molecular-weight marker (50-bp DNA ladder); 2. empty; 3–8. mixture of human DNA and 100 (3), 50 (4), 10 (5), 5 (6), 1 (7) and 0.1 (8) ng of <i>L</i>. <i>tropica</i>; 9. uninfected rodent; 10. <i>Leishmania tropica</i> DNA; 11. <i>Leishmania tarentolae</i> DNA; and 12. Negative control for the PCR.</p

Details of the samples employed to validate the multiplex PCR system: Mammal order, geographic origin and tissue from wild mammalian hosts previously diagnosed with <i>Leishmania</i> spp. infection using a singleplex reaction.

<p>Details of the samples employed to validate the multiplex PCR system: Mammal order, geographic origin and tissue from wild mammalian hosts previously diagnosed with <i>Leishmania</i> spp. infection using a singleplex reaction.</p

Silver-stained electrophoresis polyacrylamide gel obtained from the amplification of gapdh and kDNA with the multiplex PCR system.

<p>(A) PCR products from the multiplex PCR system using Taq DNA polymerase enzymes (ABM^®) in the presence of 5% DMSO. (B) PCR products from the multiplex PCR system using the FideliTaq PCR Master Mix (Affymetrix, USB). In both figures: 1. molecular-weight marker (50-bp DNA ladder); 2. infected rodent; 3. uninfected rodent; 4. human DNA; and 5. negative PCR control.</p

DNA sequence and genomic region of molecular targets employed in the multiplex PCR system.

<p>DNA sequence and genomic region of molecular targets employed in the multiplex PCR system.</p