Equine infection with Leishmania spp. in Costa Rica: Study of five cases

Veterinary Medicine and Science

Nerea García¹  Francisco Javier Salguero²  Alexis Berrocal³  María Victoria Ortega‐García⁴  Inmaculada Moreno⁵  Mercedes Domínguez⁵ 

[1] Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET) Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid Spain;Department of Pathology and infectious Diseases University of Surrey Guildford UK;Histopatovet Heredia Costa Rica;Subdirección de Sistemas Terrestres Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA)‐Campus La Marañosa Madrid Spain;Unidad de Inmunología Microbiana Área de Inmunología Instituto de Salud Carlos III Majadahonda Madrid Spain;

关键词: cutaneous leishmaniosis;    histopathology;    horse;    immunohistochemistry;    Leishmania spp;    leishmaniosis;   

DOI  :  10.1002/vms3.587

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Cutaneous forms of leishmaniosis due to Leishmania braziliensis have been reported in horses in the New World. Domestic animals play a role in the transmission of the disease. In Costa Rica, human cases of L. braziliensis, L. panamensis and L. infantum have been reported. Objectives The present report describes five cases of equine cutaneous leishmaniosis in Costa Rica. The aetiological diagnosis was based on the presence of the parasite within the lesions. Methods Skin biopsies were used to perform histopathological analyses of the lesions. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the presence of the Leishmania spp. antigens in tissue sections. Laser‐capture micro‐dissection and quantitative real‐time PCR techniques were carried out to detect the pathogen nucleic acid within the microscopic lesions. Results Histopathological analyses showed a granulomatous inflammation within the dermis, with multi‐nucleated giant cells, macrophages, lymphocytes and few neutrophils and eosinophils. We detected the parasite by immunohistochemistry, using a rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against Leishmania spp. However, we could not identify Leishmania spp. by quantitative real‐time PCR in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissues, using specific primers for the conserved region in the minicircle of the Leishmania DNA kinetoplast. Conclusions Our results emphasise the importance of Leishmania spp. not only as a causative agent of equine cutaneous disease in the New World, but also as a possible emerging pathogen. Leishmaniosis is one of the most prevalent parasitic public health problems worldwide, and equines may have a role in the epidemiology of the disease.

【 授权许可】

Unknown