RESUMEN
Venezuela is a country where human and canine leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum, Leishmania braziliensis and other Leishmania spp. is endemic. However, only limited data is available on canine Leishmania infection in Venezuela. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence of Leishmania infection in dogs (n = 152) from the states of Lara (n = 91) and Yaracuy (n = 61) in Venezuela by means of serological and molecular methods. Physical examination was performed and blood samples were collected from all dogs. Serology for antibodies reactive with L. infantum and L. braziliensis antigens was assessed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and detection of Leishmania DNA from blood samples was evaluated by kinetoplast Leishmania real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, Leishmania internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) RT-PCR was performed on the samples positive by kinetoplast RT-PCR. The prevalence of Leishmania infection based on serological and/or molecular techniques was 11.8%. The seroprevalence for L. infantum and L. braziliensis antigens were 2.1% (3/144) and 8.3% (12/144), respectively. All dogs from the state of Yaracuy were serologically negative to L. infantum while 4.6% (4/86) of the dogs were reactive to L. braziliensis antigen. Fourteen percent (8/58) of the dogs from the state of Lara were positive to L. infantum and 5.2% (3/58) to L. braziliensis antigen. Three dogs were positive to both Leishmania spp. antigens. By RT-PCR, 6.5% (4/61) and 4.4% (4/91) of the dogs were positive for infection in the states of Lara and Yaracuy, respectively. The RT-PCR product of one dog from the state of Yaracuy was sequenced revealing a 100% identity with L. infantum. However, all RT-PCR positive dogs were seronegative to both Leishmania spp. antigens. In conclusion, the positivity for Leishmania spp. infections observed indicates that dogs are frequently infected by L. infantum, L. braziliensis or related Leishmania spp. in Venezuela.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Perros/epidemiología , Leishmania braziliensis/aislamiento & purificación , Leishmania infantum/aislamiento & purificación , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/veterinaria , Leishmaniasis Visceral/veterinaria , Animales , Estudios Transversales , Enfermedades de los Perros/parasitología , Perros , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática/veterinaria , Femenino , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/epidemiología , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/parasitología , Leishmaniasis Visceral/epidemiología , Leishmaniasis Visceral/parasitología , Masculino , Prevalencia , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa/veterinaria , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , Venezuela/epidemiologíaAsunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Gatos/diagnóstico , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/veterinaria , Animales , Antígenos de Protozoos/sangre , Enfermedades de los Gatos/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Gatos/inmunología , Enfermedades de los Gatos/parasitología , Gatos , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Inmunohistoquímica , Leishmania braziliensis/genética , Leishmania braziliensis/inmunología , Leishmania braziliensis/aislamiento & purificación , Leishmania infantum/genética , Leishmania infantum/inmunología , Leishmania infantum/aislamiento & purificación , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/diagnóstico , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/epidemiología , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/parasitología , Mascotas/parasitología , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa , Venezuela/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: According to the reported cases of transfusion-acquired Trypanosoma cruzi infection, the risk of T. cruzi transfusion transmission appears to be higher with platelet (PLT) products than with other blood components. The aim of this study was to investigate by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) the parasitic load detected in leukoreduced plasma and PLT concentrates collected by apheresis from seropositive T. cruzi blood donors and compare them with peripheral whole blood (WB). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: During 2011 to 2013, a prospective study was carried out in a group of blood donors originating from Chagas-endemic areas but who are now living on the island of Majorca, Spain. Leukoreduced plasma and PLT concentrates were collected by apheresis from seropositive blood donors with detectable parasitemias in peripheral WB. RESULTS: Seropositivity was found in 23 of 1201 donors studied (1.9%), and T. cruzi DNA with less than 1 parasite equivalent/mL was detected in peripheral WB in 60.86% (14 of 23) of these. The study in blood components obtained by apheresis from these donors showed that T. cruzi DNA with a mean ± SD parasitic load of 5.33 ± 6.12 parasite equivalents/mL was detected in 100% of the PLT concentrate samples. Parasite DNA was undetectable in the extract taken from plasma collected from donors with a positive qPCR in peripheral WB. CONCLUSION: The higher parasitic load found in PLT concentrates compared to plasma and peripheral WB would explain the higher transfusion transmission risk of Chagas disease associated with PLT transfusions described in the reported cases of transfusion-acquired T. cruzi infection.