Occurrence of <i>Leishmania infantum</i> in Wild Mammals Admitted to Recovery Centers in Spain
Zoonotic leishmaniasis caused by <i>Leishmania infantum</i> is distributed worldwide and affects humans and domestic and wild mammals. In Europe, specifically in the Mediterranean basin, leishmaniasis is endemic due to the concurrence of the phlebotomine vectors and reservoir mammals, in...
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/8/1048 |
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| author | Iris Azami-Conesa Paula Pérez-Moreno Pablo Matas Méndez Jose Sansano-Maestre Fernando González Marta Mateo Barrientos María Teresa Gómez-Muñoz |
| author_facet | Iris Azami-Conesa Paula Pérez-Moreno Pablo Matas Méndez Jose Sansano-Maestre Fernando González Marta Mateo Barrientos María Teresa Gómez-Muñoz |
| author_sort | Iris Azami-Conesa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Zoonotic leishmaniasis caused by <i>Leishmania infantum</i> is distributed worldwide and affects humans and domestic and wild mammals. In Europe, specifically in the Mediterranean basin, leishmaniasis is endemic due to the concurrence of the phlebotomine vectors and reservoir mammals, including carnivorous wildlife species and other less studied wild species. In this article, spleen, skin, and eye or oral swabs taken from 134 wild mammals admitted to five wildlife recovery centers in Spain were used. PCR employing fragments of the Repeat region, ITS1, and SSUrRNA were used for detection, and positive samples were processed for sequencing. <i>L. infantum</i> was detected in three out of the nine species analyzed, including European hedgehog, European badger, and red squirrel, with percentages ranging from 11.53 to 35.71%, depending on the species. Most of the species showed higher percentages of positivity in spleen samples than in skin samples. A small number of animals from the remaining six species tested negative, including Algerian hedgehog, stone marten, least weasel, garden dormouse, western polecat, and Egyptian mongoose. Hedgehogs and badgers are good candidates for consideration as epidemiological sentinels and pose a higher risk as potential reservoirs of leishmaniasis based on their percentage of infection and wide distribution. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:39:20Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:39:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-2d5deb2ff3824a27a9db910d84e65c422023-11-19T02:32:50ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172023-08-01128104810.3390/pathogens12081048Occurrence of <i>Leishmania infantum</i> in Wild Mammals Admitted to Recovery Centers in SpainIris Azami-Conesa0Paula Pérez-Moreno1Pablo Matas Méndez2Jose Sansano-Maestre3Fernando González4Marta Mateo Barrientos5María Teresa Gómez-Muñoz6Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainFacultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28691 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Animal Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Valencia, 46002 Valencia, SpainGREFA (Grupo de Rehabilitación de la Fauna Autóctona y su Hábitat), Monte del Pilar, 28220 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainZoonotic leishmaniasis caused by <i>Leishmania infantum</i> is distributed worldwide and affects humans and domestic and wild mammals. In Europe, specifically in the Mediterranean basin, leishmaniasis is endemic due to the concurrence of the phlebotomine vectors and reservoir mammals, including carnivorous wildlife species and other less studied wild species. In this article, spleen, skin, and eye or oral swabs taken from 134 wild mammals admitted to five wildlife recovery centers in Spain were used. PCR employing fragments of the Repeat region, ITS1, and SSUrRNA were used for detection, and positive samples were processed for sequencing. <i>L. infantum</i> was detected in three out of the nine species analyzed, including European hedgehog, European badger, and red squirrel, with percentages ranging from 11.53 to 35.71%, depending on the species. Most of the species showed higher percentages of positivity in spleen samples than in skin samples. A small number of animals from the remaining six species tested negative, including Algerian hedgehog, stone marten, least weasel, garden dormouse, western polecat, and Egyptian mongoose. Hedgehogs and badgers are good candidates for consideration as epidemiological sentinels and pose a higher risk as potential reservoirs of leishmaniasis based on their percentage of infection and wide distribution.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/8/1048<i>L. infantum</i>wild mammalsPCREuropean hedgehogred squirrelEuropean badger |
| spellingShingle | Iris Azami-Conesa Paula Pérez-Moreno Pablo Matas Méndez Jose Sansano-Maestre Fernando González Marta Mateo Barrientos María Teresa Gómez-Muñoz Occurrence of <i>Leishmania infantum</i> in Wild Mammals Admitted to Recovery Centers in Spain Pathogens <i>L. infantum</i> wild mammals PCR European hedgehog red squirrel European badger |
| title | Occurrence of <i>Leishmania infantum</i> in Wild Mammals Admitted to Recovery Centers in Spain |
| title_full | Occurrence of <i>Leishmania infantum</i> in Wild Mammals Admitted to Recovery Centers in Spain |
| title_fullStr | Occurrence of <i>Leishmania infantum</i> in Wild Mammals Admitted to Recovery Centers in Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occurrence of <i>Leishmania infantum</i> in Wild Mammals Admitted to Recovery Centers in Spain |
| title_short | Occurrence of <i>Leishmania infantum</i> in Wild Mammals Admitted to Recovery Centers in Spain |
| title_sort | occurrence of i leishmania infantum i in wild mammals admitted to recovery centers in spain |
| topic | <i>L. infantum</i> wild mammals PCR European hedgehog red squirrel European badger |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/8/1048 |
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