<i>Leishmania</i> Infection in Wild Lagomorphs and Domestic Dogs in North-East Spain
2024
Oscar Cabezón | Pamela Martínez-Orellana | Maria Puig Ribas | Catarina Jota Baptista | Diana Gassó | Roser Velarde | Xavier Fernández Aguilar | Laia Solano-Gallego
<i>Leishmania infantum</i> is a zoonotic protozoan parasite distributed worldwide that is transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. Dogs are the main reservoir for human infections. However, in recent years, the capacity of lagomorphs to contribute to <i>Leishmania</i> transmission has been confirmed. The present study aimed to assess <i>Leishmania</i> spp. exposure and infection in lagomorphs and sympatric domestic dogs in NE Spain. Sera from European hares, European rabbits, and rural dogs were tested for antibodies against <i>L. infantum</i> using an in-house indirect ELISA. PCR analysis targeting <i>Leishmania</i> spp. was performed in spleens from <i>L. europaeus</i>. Antibodies against <i>Leishmania</i> spp. were detected in all the species analyzed. Total sample prevalence was significantly higher in <i>O. cuniculus</i> (27.9%) than in <i>L. europaeus</i> (2.0%). Results of the PCR were all negative. The present study expands knowledge about <i>Leishmania</i> infections in free-ranging lagomorphs in the Iberian Peninsula, suggesting a more important role of <i>O. cuniculus</i> in the study area. Given the strong correlation between lagomorph densities and human leishmaniasis outbreaks in Spain, the high rabbit and human densities in NE Spain, and the high <i>Leishmania</i> spp. seroprevalence in rabbits, it becomes imperative to establish surveillance programs for lagomorphs in this region.
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