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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 -
The American Journal of Tropical... Nov 2013Abstract. During the last 35 years, visceral leishmaniasis has spread in Greece with autochthonous human cases appearing in 41 of the 54 prefectures. The occurrence of...
Abstract. During the last 35 years, visceral leishmaniasis has spread in Greece with autochthonous human cases appearing in 41 of the 54 prefectures. The occurrence of the disease was mapped and related to dog seropositivity, environmental and geospatial risk factors. Average dog seropositivity was 22.1% and positive animals were found in 43 of 54 prefectures. Factors like: altitude, presence of water bodies, land use, wind speed, mean land surface temperature, mean relative humidity, and mean annual rainfall were found to affect dog seropositivity. Cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania tropica are also increasing. Phlebotomus similis believed to be the potential vector of L. tropica in Greece, was found in areas where the disease is widespread but also where cases have never been reported implying a danger of introduction of this anthroponotic parasite to new regions.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Child; Child, Preschool; Climate; Disease Vectors; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Endemic Diseases; Female; Greece; Humans; Humidity; Incidence; Infant; Leishmania tropica; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Male; Middle Aged; Phlebotomus; Seroepidemiologic Studies
PubMed: 24062479
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0070 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Dec 2021The kinetoplastid protozoan Leishmania tropica mainly causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans in the Middle East, and relapse or treatment failure after treatment are...
BACKGROUND
The kinetoplastid protozoan Leishmania tropica mainly causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans in the Middle East, and relapse or treatment failure after treatment are common in this area. L. tropica's digenic life cycle includes distinct stages in the vector sandfly and the mammalian host. Sexual reproduction and genetic exchange appear to occur more frequently than in other Leishmania species. Understanding these processes is complicated by chromosome instability during cell division that yields aneuploidy, recombination and heterozygosity. This combination of rare recombination and aneuploid permits may reveal signs of hypothetical parasexual mating, where diploid cells fuse to form a transient tetraploid that undergoes chromosomal recombination and gradual chromosomal loss.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
The genome-wide SNP diversity from 22 L. tropica isolates showed chromosome-specific runs of patchy heterozygosity and extensive chromosome copy number variation. All these isolates were collected during 2007-2017 in Sweden from patients infected in the Middle East and included isolates from a patient possessing two genetically distinct leishmaniasis infections three years apart with no evidence of re-infection. We found differing ancestries on the same chromosome (chr36) across multiple samples: matching the reference genome with few derived alleles, followed by blocks of heterozygous SNPs, and then by clusters of homozygous SNPs with specific recombination breakpoints at an inferred origin of replication. Other chromosomes had similar marked changes in heterozygosity at strand-switch regions separating polycistronic transcriptional units.
CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE
These large-scale intra- and inter-chromosomal changes in diversity driven by recombination and aneuploidy suggest multiple mechanisms of cell reproduction and diversification in L. tropica, including mitotic, meiotic and parasexual processes. It underpins the need for more genomic surveillance of Leishmania, to detect emerging hybrids that could spread more widely and to better understand the association between genetic variation and treatment outcome. Furthering our understanding of Leishmania genome evolution and ancestry will aid better diagnostics and treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L.tropica in the Middle East.
Topics: Afghanistan; Chromosomes; DNA Copy Number Variations; DNA, Protozoan; Genetic Variation; Genome, Protozoan; Humans; Iran; Leishmania tropica; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Phylogeny; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Recombination, Genetic; Syria
PubMed: 34968388
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010110 -
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi Mar 2020The province of Khorasan-Razavi in the North East of Iran is an endemic area for anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL caused mainly by ) and zoonotic cutaneous... (Review)
Review
The province of Khorasan-Razavi in the North East of Iran is an endemic area for anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL caused mainly by ) and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL caused mainly by ). Based on clinical signs, some cities were considered as ACL foci while others were considered to be endemic for ZCL. This paper reviews studies performed on patients diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) via the use of direct slide examination, ELISA, electrophoresis isoenzyme, RAPD PCR and PCR in Mashhad; the study also includes cases of CL in other cities of the Khorasan-Razavi province where only PCR used as a diagnostic tool. The data show that both and caused CL in most of the cities investigated. Our review shows that was found in areas where ACL is prevalent and was observed in areas with high incidence of ZCL. This distribution represents a major change in the epidemiological pattern of Leishmania in the Khorasan-Razavi province.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Electrophoresis; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Incidence; Iran; Leishmania major; Leishmania tropica; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; Zoonoses
PubMed: 32212595
DOI: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2019.6137 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jan 2022Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) due to Leishmania tropica is a neglected tropical disease characterized by a wide geographical distribution in the Mediterranean basin and... (Review)
Review
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) due to Leishmania tropica is a neglected tropical disease characterized by a wide geographical distribution in the Mediterranean basin and is endemic in several of its countries. In addition, the vector Phlebotomus sergenti is abundantly present all around the basin. Its transmission cycle is still subject to debate. In some countries, the presence of an animal reservoir has been confirmed. In Morocco, CL due to L. tropica has risen since the 1980s and has spread widely to become the most abundant form of leishmaniasis in the territory. However, the anthroponotic transmission is so far the only recognized mode, despite recordings of L. tropica infection in animal hosts. In this review article, we assess the situation of CL due to L. tropica in the Mediterranean basin with a focus on Morocco and gather knowledge about any potential zoonotic transmission in the country. A concomitant zoonotic transmission could explain the persistence of the disease in areas where human protective measures combined with vector management did not help reduce the disease burden.
Topics: Animal Distribution; Animals; Humans; Leishmania tropica; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Mediterranean Region; Phlebotomus; Zoonoses
PubMed: 35025884
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010009 -
Veterinary Medicine and Science Nov 2022In recent years, cases of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) have been reported in some districts of Golestan Province, northeastern Iran, particularly in rural areas....
BACKGROUND
In recent years, cases of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) have been reported in some districts of Golestan Province, northeastern Iran, particularly in rural areas. Recent epidemiological evidence in Leishmania infantum endemic regions of in Iran indicates approximately 50%-80% of seropositive dogs are asymptomatic for Leishmania infection.
OBJECTIVES
The goal in this study was to determine Leishmania species infecting domestic dogs in Golestan Province, Iran.
METHODS
Between 2015 and 2016, blood samples were obtained from 100 domestic dogs in rural regions of Golestan Province, northeastern Iran. All samples were tested for anti-Leishmania antibodies using a direct agglutination test (DAT), and for Leishmania spp. kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) using PCR.
RESULTS
Seven (7%) dogs were antibody positive and 25 dogs (25%) were Leishmania spp. DNA positives by PCR positive for leishmaniasis. Four of the seven (71%) antibody-positive dogs and 19 of the 25 (76%) PCR-positive dogs were asymptomatic. The rate of infection detected by PCR was significantly higher in male dogs (21/75, 28%) than that in female dogs (4/25, 16%). The ITS1 PCR-RFLP assay identified the presence of L. infantum, L. tropica or Crithidia spp. in the 25 PCR-positive samples.
CONCLUSIONS
The high proportion of asymptomatic dogs in the study areas represent they act as potential reservoirs in the transmission cycle of Leishmania spp. and also Crithidia fasciculata as an emerging agent for the first time. Moreover, our data showed that PCR is a more reliable assay than DAT for detecting Leishmania spp. infection among asymptomatic dogs.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Dogs; Animals; Leishmania infantum; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Leishmania tropica; Crithidia fasciculata; Iran; Dog Diseases
PubMed: 36063538
DOI: 10.1002/vms3.929 -
Journal of Parasitic Diseases :... Jun 2022The appearance of resistance to pentavalent antimony, as the mainline of treatment for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) has been reported from Iran. According to the...
The appearance of resistance to pentavalent antimony, as the mainline of treatment for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) has been reported from Iran. According to the patients' laboratory and clinical history, 96 archived slides of patients infected with () treated with Meglumine Antimoniate (Glucantime®) were selected. After microscopic examination, Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (Nested-PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) assays were done for each sample. In Nested-PCR, all positive samples were characterized as . Additionally, some positive products of sensitive, resistant, and recidivans cases were selected to check their differentiations by sequencing software. In RFLP, various patterns of schizodemes were detected according to the reference patterns. Most sensitive cases of (treated with Glucantime®) were categorized as schizodeme B, and most resistant cases were identified as schizodeme B and D. In recidivans cases, 91% of specimens categorized as schizodeme A and B. However, study on the type of isolates that are resistant or sensitive to Glucantime® could be helpful before drug therapy.
PubMed: 35692465
DOI: 10.1007/s12639-022-01471-9 -
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Aug 2022Leishmaniasis is estimated to be more common in males than in females. Our purpose was to evaluate differences in preponderance in relation to sex and gender across...
Leishmaniasis is estimated to be more common in males than in females. Our purpose was to evaluate differences in preponderance in relation to sex and gender across cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in Israel. An observational study was performed, including cases of endemic CL (cutaneous leishmaniasis) in Israel, and imported MCL (mucocutaneous leishmaniasis). CL is a notifiable disease and is supposed to be reported to the Ministry of Health (MOH). The MOH database shows that males as more likely to be infected by leishmania, with an incidence of 5/100,000 in males vs. 3.5/100,000 in females. However, while conducting a demographic house-to-house survey in several locations in Israel where CL is highly endemic, among 608 people who were screened only 49% were males in endemic regions and 41% were males in () endemic regions, while among 165 cases of imported New-World cutaneous leishmaniasis in Israeli travelers freturning from abroad, 142 (86%) were males. It may be postulated that there is no real gender difference in leishmanial infection, but, perhaps, infections are more commonly seen in men because of referral/reported bias, due to more risk-taking behaviors by men or, perhaps, men are less likely to strictly adhere to recommended preventive measures and thus increase their risk of contracting the disease.
PubMed: 36006271
DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7080179 -
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi Aug 2021Leishmaniasis is a protozoan parasitic disease transmitted to humans by infected female sand flies. Turkey has received more than three million immigrants from Syria...
Leishmaniasis is a protozoan parasitic disease transmitted to humans by infected female sand flies. Turkey has received more than three million immigrants from Syria because of the civil war and political instability. This study reported cases of two patients, who were from Syria and lived in Hatay, with cutaneous leishmaniasis and mucosal involvement. Two patients presented to the infectious diseases clinic with a complaint of facial lesions and were subsequently referred to the parasitology department laboratory. Smears were prepared from the lesions, stained with Giemsa and examined under a microscope. Moreover, aspirates taken from the patients' lesions were inoculated into the modified Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle medium. The diagnosis was made when amastigotes were detected in both smears. Proliferation of promastigotes was observed in one of the clinical specimens inoculated on the medium. By PZR-RFLP, Leishmania tropica were detected in the isolate. Both patients were treated with amphotericin B. One patient was treated again with a pentavalent antimony compound because of the recurrence of the lesion.
Topics: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Azure Stains; Female; Humans; Leishmania tropica; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Psychodidae
PubMed: 34346882
DOI: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2021.21931 -
Journal of Parasitology Research 2021Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Syria is caused mainly by . It represents a serious health problem, which has aggravated further after the civil war in the country. Until...
Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Syria is caused mainly by . It represents a serious health problem, which has aggravated further after the civil war in the country. Until now, there are no effective protective strategies, safe therapy, or efficacious vaccine to protect from this infection. DNA vaccines represent a promising approach for achieving protection against leishmaniasis. The L5 ribosomal protein plays fundamental roles in the assembly process of the ribosome subunits, so this study has chosen the ribosomal protein L5 gene to design a DNA vaccine against infection. After proving the existence of the ribosomal protein L5 gene in a Syrian strain of (LCED Syrian 01), it was sequenced and cloned into a pCI plasmid, and the designed DNA vaccine was administered to BALB/c mice. The protective response was evaluated by measuring lesion development in immunized BALB/c mice for 6 weeks after challenging mice with the parasite. RT-qPCR was used to quantify IL-12, IFN-, and IL-4 in draining lymph nodes (DLNs) of immunized mice. In the final week, the parasite burden was determined in footpad lesions and local draining lymph nodes (DLNs). This study demonstrated the presence and expression of the ribosomal protein L5 gene in the Syrian strain of promastigotes. The sequence of the ribosomal protein cDNA L5 gene was determined and published in Genbank. The gene size was 918 bp. Expression was also demonstrated at the level of cDNA. This study also demonstrated that vaccination with the ribosomal protein L5 gene induces TH1 response in immunized mice. This response prevents the partial development of a skin lesion of .
PubMed: 34094593
DOI: 10.1155/2021/6617270