Mixed infection with Leishmania ( Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania ( Leishmania) chagasi in a naturally infected dog from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• Published in: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol. 100; no. 5; pp. 442 - 445
• Main Authors: Madeira, M.F., Schubach, A., Schubach, T.M.P., Pacheco, R.S., Oliveira, F.S., Pereira, S.A., Figueiredo, F.B., Baptista, C., Marzochi, M.C.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2006; Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Disease Reservoirs; DNA, Protozoan - analysis; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dogs; Electrophoresis - veterinary; Human protozoal diseases; Infectious diseases; Isoenzymes; Leishmania ( Leishmania) chagasi; Leishmania ( Viannia) braziliensis; Leishmania - enzymology; Leishmania - genetics; Leishmania - isolation & purification; Leishmania braziliensis - enzymology; Leishmania braziliensis - genetics; Leishmania braziliensis - isolation & purification; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - complications; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - veterinary; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - complications; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - veterinary; Leshmaniasis; Male; Medical sciences; Mixed infection; Parasitic diseases; PCR; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Protozoal diseases; Zoonoses; South America; Brazil; America; Brazil; Leishmania ( Leishmania) chagasi; Mixed infection; Isoenzymes; PCR; Leishmania ( Viannia) braziliensis; Kinetoplastida; Leishmania braziliensis; Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis; Fissipedia; Protozoa; Carnivora; Protozoal disease; Parasitosis; Leishmaniasis; Infection; Polymerase chain reaction; Vertebrata; Leishmania chagasi; Mammalia; Animal; Tropical medicine; Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi; Molecular biology; Dog
• ISSN: 0035-9203; 1878-3503
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2005.07.011

We report here the first case of co-infection with Leishmania ( Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania ( Leishmania) chagasi in a naturally infected dog from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Isoenzyme characterisation identified the parasites isolated in culture from the cutaneous lesion as L. ( V.) braziliensis and the isolates from blood and lymph node as L. ( L.) chagasi. PCR analysis using specific primers followed by molecular hybridisation for direct Leishmania species identification in tissue fragments confirmed the presence of L. ( V.) braziliensis DNA in the cutaneous lesion and of L. ( L.) chagasi DNA in spleen and popliteal lymph node fragments. This report emphasises the importance of identification of Leishmania species infecting seropositive dogs in endemic areas, and the consequent re-assessment of control and epidemiological surveillance measures for the control of leishmaniasis, as is the case in Brazil.