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Animals
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Leishmania Infection in Animals
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Leishmania Infection in Animals

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Clinical Studies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 July 2025 | Viewed by 7232

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sergio Villanueva-Saz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: vector-borne disease; dog; cat; Leishmania; infectious diseases in small animals; diagnostic; veterinary para-sitology in small animals; veterinary medicine; ferret; small animal; dermatology; SARS-CoV-2
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Antonio Fernández

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: vector-borne disease; dog; cat; Leishmania; infectious diseases in small animals; diagnostic; veterinary para-sitology in small animals; veterinary medicine; ferret; small animal; dermatology; SARS-CoV-2
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Héctor Ruiz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: veterinary pathology; veterinary diagnostics; veterinary science; veterinary parasitology; zoonotic diseases; animal anatomy and physiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Leishmaniosis is a vector-borne disease caused by different species of Leishmania species. It is a zoonosis with recorded human and animal cases in endemic areas. Moreover, global spread of the infection from endemic areas to non-endemic areas has been also described due to different factors such as travel, the importation of infected animals, and global climate change. All of these circumstances make it necessary to consider leishmaniasis in animals as a major concern for public health and veterinary.

In this Special Issue on “Leishmania Infection in Animals”, we aim to collect the present state-of-the-art research on the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and preventative measures of conventional pets, exotic pets, domestic animals, and wildlife species to Leishmania infection caused by different species in different geographical regions.

We invite original articles with relevant results that offer new information about the infection and disease in animals that lead to a better understanding of the role that animals can have in this infection. Different types of articles including reviews, original research, etc., are welcome for submission.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Sergio Villanueva-Saz
Dr. Antonio Fernández
Dr. Héctor Ruiz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • animal
  • cat
  • diagnostic techniques
  • dog
  • epidemiology
  • exotic pet
  • Leishmania
  • preventive measures
  • treatment

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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8 pages, 763 KiB  
Article
First Evidence of Leishmania infantum Antibodies in Sheep (Ovis aries) from Southern Germany
by Benjamin Ulrich Bauer, María Eugenia Lebrero, Martin Ganter, Teresa Navarro, Antonio Fernández, Marta Ruíz de Arcaute, Aurora Ortín, Sergio Villanueva-Saz, Diana Marteles, Héctor Ruiz, María Climent, Pablo Quílez and Delia Lacasta
Animals 2024, 14(13), 1860; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14131860 - 24 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 765
Abstract
In Europe, Leishmania infantum is the most prevalent Leishmania species, and this protozoan is transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. A recent publication has shown that sheep harbor L. infantum antibodies. This raises questions about the epidemiological role of small ruminants. Therefore, sera from small [...] Read more.
In Europe, Leishmania infantum is the most prevalent Leishmania species, and this protozoan is transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. A recent publication has shown that sheep harbor L. infantum antibodies. This raises questions about the epidemiological role of small ruminants. Therefore, sera from small ruminants located in two southern German federal states, Baden-Wuerttemberg (BW) and Bavaria (BAV), were analyzed with an ELISA to determine the presence of L. infantum antibodies. The species, sex and age (gimmer vs. ewe) were recorded, and a univariate analysis was conducted to determine possible associations. In total, seven sheep flocks (274 sheep/10 goats) from BW and seven sheep flocks (277 sheep/78 goats) from BAV were examined. In BW, four sheep from three flocks tested positive for L. infantum antibodies. In BAV, the same number of positive sheep were detected but in four flocks. The total seropositivity rate in sheep was 1.45%. All goats tested negative. No significant association (p > 0.05) was detected between Leishmania seropositivity and the variables evaluated. Our study reveals the exposure of sheep to L. infantum in a non-endemic area. Further investigation is needed to determine whether sheep can be used as sentinels to identify new phlebotomine habitats and Leishmania risk areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Leishmania Infection in Animals)
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12 pages, 1006 KiB  
Article
Genetic Variability in Leishmaniasis-Causing Leishmania infantum in Humans and Dogs from North-East Spain
by Xavier Roca-Geronès, Clara Sala, Diana Marteles, Sergio Villanueva-Saz, Cristina Riera, Mª Magdalena Alcover and Roser Fisa
Animals 2024, 14(12), 1796; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14121796 - 15 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1007
Abstract
Leishmania infantum is the primary cause of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in the European Mediterranean region. Subspecies-level characterization of L. infantum aids epidemiological studies by offering insights into the evolution and geographical distribution of the parasite and reservoir identity. In this study, conducted [...] Read more.
Leishmania infantum is the primary cause of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in the European Mediterranean region. Subspecies-level characterization of L. infantum aids epidemiological studies by offering insights into the evolution and geographical distribution of the parasite and reservoir identity. In this study, conducted in north-east Spain, 26 DNA samples of L. infantum were analyzed, comprising 21 from 10 humans and 5 from 5 dogs. Minicircle kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) polymerase chain reaction assays using primers MC1 and MC2, followed by sequencing, were employed to assess intraspecific genetic variability. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis detected seven genotypes (G1, G2, G12*–G15*, and G17*), with five being reported for the first time (*). The most prevalent was the newly described G13 (54%), while the other currently identified genotypes were predominantly found in single samples. The in silico restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method revealed five genotypes (B, F, N, P, and W), one of them previously unreported (W). Genotype B was the most prevalent (85%), comprising three SNP genotypes (G1, G2, and G13), whereas the other RFLP genotypes were associated with single SNP genotypes. These kDNA genotyping methods revealed significant intraspecific genetic diversity in L. infantum, demonstrating their suitability for fingerprinting and strain monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Leishmania Infection in Animals)
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14 pages, 4130 KiB  
Article
Increased CCL-5 (RANTES) Gene Expression in the Choroid Plexus of Dogs with Canine Leishmaniosis
by José Eduardo dos Santos Silva, Giulia Gonçalves Jussiani, Fernanda Grecco Grano, Maria Cecília Clarindo Pelissari, Guilherme Dias de Melo, Tatiane Terumi Negrão Watanabe, Valéria Felix de Lima and Gisele Fabrino Machado
Animals 2023, 13(13), 2060; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132060 - 22 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1358
Abstract
Visceral canine leishmaniasis (CanL) can cause several clinical manifestations, including neurological lesions. Few reports have characterized the lesions observed in the central nervous system (CNS) during CanL; however, its pathogenesis remains unclear. The choroid plexus (CP) is a specialized structure responsible for the [...] Read more.
Visceral canine leishmaniasis (CanL) can cause several clinical manifestations, including neurological lesions. Few reports have characterized the lesions observed in the central nervous system (CNS) during CanL; however, its pathogenesis remains unclear. The choroid plexus (CP) is a specialized structure responsible for the production and secretion of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and considered an interface between the peripheral immune system and CNS. It can allow the passage of inflammatory cells or pathogens and has the potential to act as a source of inflammatory mediators in several diseases. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the role of CP as a possible route of inflammatory cells in the development of brain lesions in dogs with CanL, as well as its association with blood–CSF barrier (BCSFB) dysfunction. Samples were collected from 19 dogs that were naturally infected with CanL. We evaluated the histopathological lesions in the brain and investigated the gene expression of the cytokines. Capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to evaluate the presence of the same cytokines in the CSF. Biochemical analysis was performed to compare the presence of albumin in the serum and CSF. Indirect ELISA was performed to measure the presence of anti-Leishmania antibodies in the CSF, which would suggest the disruption of the BCSFB. Histopathological evaluation of the dogs’ brains revealed mild-to-severe inflammatory infiltrates, mainly in the CP and meninges. We also detected the presence of anti-Leishmania antibodies and albumin in the CSF, as well as Leishmania DNA in the CP. The gene expression of CCL-5 was increased in the CP of infected dogs compared with that of controls, and there was a tendency for the increase in the gene expression of CXCL-10. Thus, our findings confirm the disfunction of the BCSFB during CanL and suggest that the chemokines CCL-5 and CXCL-10 can be responsible for the recruitment of inflammatory cells found in CP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Leishmania Infection in Animals)
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19 pages, 381 KiB  
Article
Signalment, Immunological and Parasitological Status and Clinicopathological Findings of Leishmania-Seropositive Apparently Healthy Dogs
by Marta Baxarias, Oriol Jornet-Rius, Giulia Donato, Cristina Mateu, Mª Magdalena Alcover, Maria Grazia Pennisi and Laia Solano-Gallego
Animals 2023, 13(10), 1649; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13101649 - 16 May 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2048
Abstract
Canine leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum is a disease with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Epidemiological serosurveys performed in Europe often lack a thorough assessment of clinical health status of studied dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate signalment, immunological [...] Read more.
Canine leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum is a disease with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Epidemiological serosurveys performed in Europe often lack a thorough assessment of clinical health status of studied dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate signalment, immunological and parasitological status and clinicopathological findings of L. infantum-seropositive apparently healthy dogs (n = 212) living in endemic areas. Routine laboratory tests, endpoint in-house ELISA to quantify the anti-Leishmania antibodies, blood Leishmania qPCR and IFN-γ ELISA were performed. All dogs enrolled were L. infantum-seropositive and were classified as healthy (n = 105) or sick (n = 107) according to LeishVet guidelines. The sick group presented a higher proportion of medium to high antibody levels and positive qPCR and lower IFN-γ concentration compared to the healthy group. Sick dogs were mostly classified in LeishVet stage IIa. Biochemical alterations (98%) were the most common clinicopathological findings, with fewer urinary tract (46%) and hematological (40%) alterations. Apparently healthy L. infantum-seropositive dogs can be classified between truly healthy dogs and sick dogs with clinicopathological findings. Sick dogs presented medium to high seropositivity and parasitemia and low IFN-γ concentrations, and their most common clinicopathological abnormalities were serum protein alterations followed by proteinuria and lymphopenia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Leishmania Infection in Animals)

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10 pages, 922 KiB  
Brief Report
Detection of Leishmania spp. in Cats: Analysis of Nasal, Oral and Conjunctival Swabs by PCR and HRM
by Maria Fernanda Alves-Martin, Thainá Valente Bertozzo, Isabella Neves Aires, Suzane Manzini, Mirian dos Santos Paixão-Marques, Lívia Maísa Guiraldi, Wesley José dos Santos, Gabriela Pacheco Sánchez, Vera Cláudia Lorenzetti Magalhães Curci, Virgínia Bodelão Richini-Pereira and Simone Baldini Lucheis
Animals 2023, 13(15), 2468; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152468 - 31 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1322
Abstract
Background and objectives: Feline leishmaniasis (FeL) is caused by several species of parasites of the genus Leishmania. The disease can occur with the presence or absence of clinical signs, similar to those observed in other common infectious diseases. In endemic regions for [...] Read more.
Background and objectives: Feline leishmaniasis (FeL) is caused by several species of parasites of the genus Leishmania. The disease can occur with the presence or absence of clinical signs, similar to those observed in other common infectious diseases. In endemic regions for FeL, the infection has been associated with dermatological lesions. Therefore, considering the search for less invasive and more effective diagnostic techniques, we aimed to investigate the presence of Leishmania spp. in domestic cats through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and high-resolution melting (HRM) analyses of conjunctival, oral, and nasal epithelial cells, and we detected the presence of anti-Leishmania IgG antibodies from serological techniques of the Immunofluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) and ELISA. Methods: The PCR and HRM for detection of Leishmania spp. were performed on 36 samples of epithelial cells from the conjunctiva of male and female cats, collected using sterile swabs. The serological tests IFAT and ELISA were also performed. Results: The prevalence of Leishmania donovani infection was 11.1% (4/36) by PCR assay, and those results were confirmed for Leishmania species using the HRM technique. Twenty-four cats (24/36 = 66.7%) were reactive to the IFAT and twenty-two cats were reactive by the ELISA technique (22/36 = 61.1%). Interpretation and Conclusions: The use of conjunctival swabs was shown to be a non-invasive, practical, and easy-to-perform technique, and in addition to the genetic sequencing and HRM, it was able to identify the parasitic DNA of L. donovani in cats. This technique can be used for screening diagnosis in future epidemiological surveys of FeL and can be used as a complement to clinical and/or serological tests, as well as associating the clinical history of the animal, for the diagnostic conclusion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Leishmania Infection in Animals)
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