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Tropical Medicine & International... May 2020Canine leishmaniosis is an important vector-borne zoonosis caused mainly by Leishmania infantum. Diagnosis and treatment of affected individuals can be particularly... (Review)
Review
Canine leishmaniosis is an important vector-borne zoonosis caused mainly by Leishmania infantum. Diagnosis and treatment of affected individuals can be particularly complex, hindering infection control in endemic areas. Methods to prevent canine leishmaniosis include the use of topical insecticides, prophylactic immunotherapy and vaccination. Four vaccines against canine leishmaniosis have been licensed since 2004, two in Brazil (Leishmune®, the production and marketing licence of which was withdrawn in 2014, and Leish-Tec®) and two in Europe (CaniLeish® and LetiFend®). After several years of marketing, doubts remain regarding vaccine efficacy and effectiveness, potential infectiousness of vaccinated and infected animals or the interference of vaccine-induced antibodies in L. infantum serological diagnosis. This review summarises the scientific evidence for each of the vaccines commercially approved for canine leishmaniosis, while discussing possible weaknesses of these studies. Furthermore, it raises the need to address important questions related to vaccination impact in Leishmania-endemic countries and the importance of post-marketing pharmacological surveillance.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan; Brazil; Commerce; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Europe; Leishmania infantum; Leishmaniasis; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; Vaccination; Vaccines
PubMed: 32034985
DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13382 -
Parasites & Vectors May 2022Three species of Leishmania cause disease in humans in Israel and are endemic in the Middle East: Leishmania infantum, Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major. These...
BACKGROUND
Three species of Leishmania cause disease in humans in Israel and are endemic in the Middle East: Leishmania infantum, Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major. These species infect dogs and cats, but little is known about their prevalence in pet populations and their clinical manifestations. A study on dog and cat Leishmania infection was conducted in a focus of human L. tropica infection in central Israel with the aim of getting insight on leishmaniosis in pets in an area where human infection is highly prevalent.
METHODS
Blood, demographic and clinical data were collected from dogs and cats brought for veterinary care in a focus of human L. tropica infection during 2018-2020. kDNA PCR and internal transcribed spacer1 high-resolution melt analysis PCR (ITS1 HRM PCR) with DNA sequencing were performed for the detection of Leishmania and species determination.
RESULTS
Forty-three of 189 dogs (22.8%) and 44 of 152 cats (28.9%) were positive for Leishmania spp. infection by kDNA PCR. The ITS1 HRM PCR detected six dogs (3.3%) infected with L. infantum and one (0.5%) with L. tropica, whereas six cats (3.9%) were found infected by L. infantum and five (3.3%) by L. tropica. Four of the five L. tropica-positive cats suffered from weight loss, four had azotemia, two with mild and two with severe azotemia and progressive renal disease. Three cats had gingivostomatitis; three had skin lesions with abscess and ulcers in two and scales and hair loss in another cat, which was also FIV +. This is the first report of feline L. tropica infection in Israel. Clinical information on cats with this infection from previous studies elsewhere is scarce.
CONCLUSIONS
A high rate of Leishmania spp. infection, mostly estimated as sub-clinical, was found in dogs and cats admitted for veterinary care in an L. tropica focus. Among the animals in which infection could be characterized to the species level, more dogs were infected with L. infantum than with L. tropica while 5 of 11 cats were infected with L. tropica and had signs of systemic and skin disease not described before in feline L. tropica infection.
Topics: Animals; Azotemia; Cat Diseases; Cats; DNA, Kinetoplast; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Female; Humans; Israel; Leishmania infantum; Leishmania tropica; Leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Male
PubMed: 35534906
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05272-0 -
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases Sep 2022Leishmaniasis (or the leishmaniases), classified as a neglected tropical parasitic disease, is found in parts of the tropics, subtropics and southern Europe. Leishmania... (Review)
Review
Leishmaniasis (or the leishmaniases), classified as a neglected tropical parasitic disease, is found in parts of the tropics, subtropics and southern Europe. Leishmania parasites are transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies and million cases of human infection occur annually. Leishmania tarentolae has been historically considered a non-pathogenic protozoan of reptiles, which has been studied mainly for its potential biotechnological applications. However, some strains of L. tarentolae appear to be transiently infective to mammals. In areas where leishmaniasis is endemic, recent molecular diagnostics and serological positivity to L. tarentolae in humans and dogs have spurred interest in the interactions between these mammalian hosts, reptiles and Leishmania infantum, the main aetiologic agent of human and canine leishmaniasis. In this review, we discuss the systematics and biology of L. tarentolae in the insect vectors and the vertebrate hosts and address questions about evolution of reptilian leishmaniae. Furthermore, we discuss the possible usefulness of L. tarentolae for new vaccination strategies.
Topics: Animals; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Europe; Humans; Insect Vectors; Leishmania infantum; Leishmaniasis; Mammals; Psychodidae
PubMed: 35839512
DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14660 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2020Neglected tropical diseases such as Chagas disease and leishmaniasis affect millions of people around the world. Both diseases affect various parts of the globe and... (Review)
Review
Neglected tropical diseases such as Chagas disease and leishmaniasis affect millions of people around the world. Both diseases affect various parts of the globe and drugs traditionally used in therapy against these diseases have limitations, especially with regard to low efficacy and high toxicity. In this context, the class of bisphosphonate-based compounds has made significant advances regarding the chemical synthesis process as well as the pharmacological properties attributed to these compounds. Among this spectrum of pharmacological activity, bisphosphonate compounds with antiparasitic activity stand out, especially in the treatment of Chagas disease and leishmaniasis caused by and spp., respectively. Some bisphosphonate compounds can inhibit the mevalonate pathway, an essential metabolic pathway, by interfering with the synthesis of ergosterol, a sterol responsible for the growth and viability of these parasites. Therefore, this review aims to present the information about the importance of these compounds as antiparasitic agents and as potential new drugs to treat Chagas disease and leishmaniasis.
Topics: Animals; Antiparasitic Agents; Chagas Disease; Diphosphonates; Humans; Leishmania infantum; Leishmaniasis; Trypanosoma cruzi
PubMed: 32503272
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25112602 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Sep 2021Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania infantum is endemic in the Mediterranean basin with most of the infected human patients remaining asymptomatic....
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania infantum is endemic in the Mediterranean basin with most of the infected human patients remaining asymptomatic. Recently, the saurian-associated Leishmania tarentolae was detected in human blood donors and in sheltered dogs. The circulation of L. infantum and L. tarentolae was investigated in humans, dogs and cats living in the Pelagie islands (Sicily, Italy) by multiple serological and molecular testing. Human serum samples (n = 346) were tested to assess the exposure to L. infantum by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot (WB) and to L. tarentolae by IFAT. Meanwhile, sera from dogs (n = 149) and cats (n = 32) were tested for both Leishmania species by IFAT and all blood samples, including those of humans, by specific sets of real time-PCR for L. infantum and L. tarentolae. The agreement between serological tests performed for human samples, and between serological and molecular diagnostic techniques for both human and animal samples were also assessed. Overall, 41 human samples (11.8%, 95% CI: 8.9-15.7) were positive to L. infantum (5.2%, 95% CI: 3.3-8.1), L. tarentolae (5.2%, 95% CI: 3.3-8.1) and to both species (1.4%, 95% CI: 0.6-3.3) by serology and/or molecular tests. A good agreement among the serological tests was determined. Both Leishmania spp. were serologically and/or molecularly detected in 39.6% dogs and 43.7% cats. In addition to L. infantum, also L. tarentolae circulates in human and animal populations, raising relevant public health implications. Further studies should investigate the potential beneficial effects of L. tarentolae in the protection against L. infantum infection.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Blotting, Western; Cat Diseases; Cats; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Italy; Leishmania infantum; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Public Health; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Serologic Tests; Sicily; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
PubMed: 34555036
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009817 -
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia... 2023One hundred and sixty-six cats from two animal shelters were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT),...
One hundred and sixty-six cats from two animal shelters were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR), quantitative PCR (qPCR) and parasitological tests (PA) for the diagnosis of Leishmania spp. Among them, 15% (25/166), 53.6% (89/166), 3.6% (06/166) and 1.8% (03/166) were positive by ELISA, IFAT, both PCRs and PA, respectively. The sequencing of ITS-1 PCR amplicons revealed a 100% match with Leishmania infantum. After the Leishmania spp. survey, 12 cats were selected and divided into two groups for clinical, hematological, and biochemical analysis: six L. infantum positive cats (G1) and six Leishmania spp. negative cats (G2). All the cats were negative for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV). A statistical analysis indicated significantly low platelet counts and significant hyperproteinemia associated with hypoalbuminemia in positive cats (p<0.05). Our results suggest that in endemic areas, cats with clinical signs of feline leishmaniosis (such as skin lesions, weight loss and/or enlarged lymph nodes) and that exhibit hematological and biochemical changes, such as low platelet counts and hyperproteinemia with hypoalbuminemia, should be tested for Leishmania spp. infection.
Topics: Cats; Animals; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Hypoalbuminemia; Leishmaniasis; Leukemia Virus, Feline; Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline; Leishmania infantum; Cat Diseases
PubMed: 37377321
DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612023035 -
Research in Veterinary Science Jun 2020Immune control of Leishmania infantum, the causative agent of most canine leishmaniosis (CanL), requires a balancing act between inflammatory and regulatory responses.... (Review)
Review
Immune control of Leishmania infantum, the causative agent of most canine leishmaniosis (CanL), requires a balancing act between inflammatory and regulatory responses. This balance is specifically between the proinflammatory T helper 1 type (Th1) CD4+ T cells that are responsible for controlling parasite replication and T regulatory 1 cells which mediate an immunosuppressive, regulatory, response needed to dampen overabundant inflammation but if predominant, result in CanL progression. How this delicate immune cell interaction occurs in the dog will be highlighted in this review, focusing on the progressive changes observed within myeloid lineage cells (predominantly macrophages), B cells and T cells. After exposure to parasites, macrophages should become activated, eliminating L. infantum through release of reactive oxygen species. Unfortunately, multiple parasite and host factors can prevent macrophage activation allowing parasites to persist within them. T cells balance between a productive T1 type CD4+ response capable of producing IFN-γ which aids macrophage activation versus T cell exhaustion which reduces T cell proliferation, IFN-γ production and allows parasite expansion within macrophages. Neutrophils and Th17 cells add to the inflammatory state, aiding in parasite removal, but also leading to pathology. A regulatory B cell population increases IL-10 production and down regulates the T1 response allowing parasite growth. All of these immune challenges affect the balance between progression to clinical disease and maintaining sub-clinical disease. Vaccines and immunotherapies targeted at recovering or maintaining T and B cell function can be important factors in mending the immune balance required to survive CanL.
Topics: Animals; B-Lymphocytes; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Leishmania infantum; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Macrophages; T-Lymphocytes
PubMed: 32109759
DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.02.004 -
ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering May 2021Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a deadly, vector-borne, neglected tropical disease endemic to arid parts of the world and is caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus .... (Review)
Review
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a deadly, vector-borne, neglected tropical disease endemic to arid parts of the world and is caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus . Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for this systemic disease, and multiple potent therapies exist against this intracellular parasite. However, several factors, such as systemic toxicity, high costs, arduous treatment regimen, and rising drug resistance, are barriers for effective therapy against VL. Material-based platforms have the potential to revolutionize chemotherapy for leishmaniasis by imparting a better pharmacokinetic profile and creating patient-friendly routes of administration, while also lowering the risk for drug resistance. This review highlights promising drug delivery strategies and novel therapies that have been evaluated in preclinical models, demonstrating the potential to advance chemotherapy for VL.
Topics: Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Leishmania donovani; Leishmania infantum; Leishmaniasis, Visceral
PubMed: 33966377
DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01132 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jul 2023This study describes the spatial and temporal distribution between 2005 and 2020 of human and animal leishmaniasis by Leishmania infantum in European countries reporting... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
This study describes the spatial and temporal distribution between 2005 and 2020 of human and animal leishmaniasis by Leishmania infantum in European countries reporting autochthonous cases, and highlights potential activities to improve disease control.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
It was based on a review of the scientific literature and data reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Ministries of Health, including hospital discharges in some countries. Autochthonous infections were reported in the scientific literature from 22 countries, including 13 and 21 countries reporting human and animal infections, respectively. In contrast, only 17 countries reported autochthonous human leishmaniasis cases to the WHO and 8 countries animal infections to the WOAH. The number of WOAH reported cases were 4,203, comprising 4,183 canine cases and 20 cases in wildlife. Of 8,367 WHO reported human cases, 69% were visceral leishmaniasis cases-of which 94% were autochthonous-and 31% cutaneous leishmaniasis cases-of which 53% were imported and mostly in France. The resulting cumulative incidence per 100,000 population of visceral leishmaniasis between 2005-2020, was highest in Albania (2.15 cases), followed by Montenegro, Malta, Greece, Spain and North Macedonia (0.53-0.42), Italy (0.16), Portugal (0.09) and lower in other endemic countries (0.07-0.002). However, according to hospital discharges, the estimated human leishmaniasis incidence was 0.70 in Italy and visceral leishmaniasis incidences were 0.67 in Spain and 0.41 in Portugal.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE
Overall, there was no evidence of widespread increased incidence of autochthonous human leishmaniasis by L. infantum in European countries. Visceral leishmaniasis incidence followed a decreasing trend in Albania, Italy and Portugal, and peaked in Greece in 2013, 2014 and 2017, and in Spain in 2006-2007 and 2011-2013. Animal and human cutaneous leishmaniasis remain highly underreported. In humans, hospital discharge databases provide the most accurate information on visceral leishmaniasis and may be a valuable indirect source of information to identify hotspots of animal leishmaniasis. Integrated leishmaniasis surveillance and reporting following the One Health approach, needs to be enhanced in order to improve disease control.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Humans; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Leishmania infantum; Leishmaniasis; Europe; Italy; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Dog Diseases
PubMed: 37467280
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011497 -
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi Jun 2021This study aimed to determine the differences between the gene expression profiles of and promastigotes through comparative analysis of gene expressions. (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the differences between the gene expression profiles of and promastigotes through comparative analysis of gene expressions.
METHODS
Cell culture of (MHOM/IL/80) and (MHOM/MA/67/ITMAP/263) cell lines was performed. Afterwards, total RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis were performed and fold changes in the expression levels of 30 genes that play a role in metabolic pathways and nucleic acid synthesis and co-expressed in two species were evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Functions of genes were determined using LeishDB and KEGG databases.
RESULTS
In this study, profiles of protein-coding 30 genes expressed in and promastigotes were evaluated and significant differences were found between the two species (p<0.001). There was a significant fold change in the expression levels of 29% of genes common in the two species. The expression levels of nine genes in were found to be markedly higher than those of (fold change >1). These genes include phosphoglycan beta 1.3 galactosyltransferase-like, lathosterol oxidase-like, fatty acid elongase, 3-oxo-5 alpha-steroid 4-dehydrogenase, calpain-like cysteine peptidase, acetyl-coA synthetase, 3'-nucleotidase/nuclease, 3'-nucleotidase/nuclease precursor and 3-ketoacyl-coA thiolase-like. When the functions of the proteins that correspond to the genes common in the two species were examined in detail using the databases, it was determined that these genes play role in lipid, protein, carbohydrate and nucleic acid metabolic functions of the parasite.
CONCLUSION
Alterations in the expression profiles of genes common to and species may cause differences in the virulence, pathogenesis, clinical features and treatment modality between these parasite species. In addition, evaluation of gene profiles is important in the selection of species-specific or common targets for vaccine and drug studies.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Leishmania infantum; Leishmania major; Life Cycle Stages; Protozoan Proteins; Species Specificity; Transcriptome
PubMed: 34103283
DOI: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2021.66375