Cross-sectional survey of canine leishmaniasis in Pantelleria island in Sicily
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.2059.10976.3Keywords:
Leishmania infantum, Pantelleria island, Canine LeishmaniasisAbstract
Dogs are the major reservoir of Leishmania infantum, the causative agent of canine visceral and cutaneous human leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean basin. Canine and human leishmaniosis are endemic in Italy, particularly in central and southern regions, including islands. Here we show a preliminary, clinical, serological and molecular study carried out in Pantelleria island during 2017. In this study, we clinically examined 136 dogs for the presence of symptoms compatible with leishmaniasis, determined the titer of anti‑Leishmania antibodies, and investigated Leishmania DNA by real time PCR in blood and/or lymph node of each dog. The prevalence of disease was equal to 27% with 95% CI [21%; 32%], lower than prevalence obtained in the other Sicily islands (Lampedusa, Lipari). We observed that enlarged lymph nodes was more positively associated with canine leishmaniasis (CanL)than other clinical signs. The results obtained showed that in an endemic area, such as Sicily, diagnosis of CanL needs to be carried out by including an immunological, molecular clinical approach.
References
Baneth G., Koutinas A.F., Solano‑Gallego L., Bourdeau P. & Ferrer L. 2008. Canine leishmaniosis – new concepts and insights on an expanding zoonosis: part one. Trends Parasitol, 24, 324‑330.
Brianti E., Gaglio G., Napoli E., Falsone L., Prudente C., Solari‑Basano F., Latrofa M.S., Tarallo V.D., Dantas‑Torres F., Capelli G., Stanneck D., Giannetto S. & Otranto D. 2014. Efficacy of a slow‑release imidacloprid (10%)/flumethrin (4.5%) collar for the prevention of canine leishmaniosis. Parasit Vectors, 7, 327.
Brianti E., Napoli E., Gaglio G., Falsone L., Giannetto S., Solari Basano F., Nazzari R., Latrofa M.S., Annoscia G., Tarallo V.D., Stanneck D., Dantas‑Torres F. & Otranto D. 2016. Field evaluation of two different treatment approaches and their ability to control fleas and prevent canine leishmaniosis in a highly endemic area. PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 10 (9), e0004987.
Busani L., Gras L.M., Romi R., Boccolini D., Severini F. & Bongiorno G. 2012. Zanzare, flebotomi e zecche: atlante bibliografico delle specie d’interesse sanitario in Italia (1985‑2009). Rapporti ISTISAN 12/22. Roma, Istituto Superiore di Sanità.
Cabral M., O’Grady J.E., Gomes S., Sousa J.C., Thompson H. & Alexander J. 1998. The immunology of canine leishmaniosis: strong evidence for a developing disease spectrum from asymptomatic dogs. Vet Parasit, 76, 173‑180.
Cardoso L., Neto F., Sousa J.C., Rodrigues M. & Cabral M. 1998. Use of a leishmanin skin test in the detection of canine Leishmania‑specific cellular immunity. Vet Parasitol, 79, 213‑220.
Cascio A., Colomba C., Antinori S., Orobello M., Paterson D. & Titone L. 2002. Pediatric visceral leishmaniasis in Western Sicily, Italy: a retrospective analysis of 111 cases. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 21 (4), 277‑282.
Fernández‑Bellon H., Solano‑Gallego L., Rodríguez‑Cortés A., Ferrer L., Gallego M., Alberola J. & Ramis A. 2008. Little evidence of seasonal variation of natural infection by Leishmania infantum in dogs in Spain. Vet Parasitol, 155, 32‑36.
Foglia Manzillo V., Gizzarelli M., Vitale F., Montagnaro S., Torina A., Sotera S. & Oliva G. 2018. Serological and entomological survey of canine leishmaniasis in Lampedusa island, Italy. BMC Vet Res, 14 (1), 286.
Gramiccia M., Scalone A., Di Muccio T., Orsini S., Fiorentino E. & Gradoni L. 2013. The burden of visceral leishmaniasis in Italy from 1982 to 2012: a retrospective analysis of the multi‑annual epidemic that occurred from 1989 to 2009. Euro Surveillance, 18, 20535.
Martínez V., Quilez J., Sanchez A., Roura X., Francino O. & Altet L. 2011. Canine leishmaniasis: the key points for qPCR result interpretation. Parasit Vectors, 4, 57.
Molina R., Amela C. & Nieto J. 1994. Infectivity of dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum to colonized Phlebotomus perniciosus. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 88, 491‑493.
Moreira M.A.B., Luvizotto M.C.R., Garcia J.F., Corbett C.E.P. & Laurenti M.D. 2007. Comparison of parasitological, immunological and molecular methods for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis in dogs with different clinical signs. Vet Parasitol, 145, 245‑252. Otranto D., Napoli E., Latrofa M.S., Annoscia G., Tarallo V.D., Greco G., Lorusso E., Gulotta L., Falsone L., Basano F.S., Pennisi M.G., Deuster K., Capelli G., Dantas‑Torres F. & Brianti E. 2017. Feline and canine leishmaniosis and other vector‑borne diseases in the Aeolian Islands: pathogen and vector circulation in a confined environment. Vet Parasitol, 15 (236), 144‑151.
Solano‑Gallego L., Miró G, Koutinas A., Cardoso L., Pennisi M.G., Ferrer L., Bourdeau P., Oliva G. & Baneth G. 2011. LeishVet guidelines for the practical management of canine leishmaniosis. Parasit Vectors, 4, 86.
Solano‑Gallego L., Morell P., Arboix M., Alberola J. & Ferrer L. 2001. Prevalence of Leishmania infantum infection in dogs living in an area of canine leishmaniasis endemicity using PCR on several tissues and serology. J Clin Microbiol, 39, 560‑556. Vitale F., Reale S., Vitale M., Petrotta E., Torina A. & Caracappa S. 2004. TaqMan‑based detection of Leishmania infantum DNA using canine samples. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1026, 139‑143.
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). 2018. Chapter. 3.1.11 – Leishmaniosis (most recent updates adopted in 2014). In Manual of diagnostic tests and vaccines for terrestrial animals, OIE, Paris. https://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Health_standards/tahm/3.01.11_LEISHMANIOSIS.pdf
