Detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in tissues of free-ranging red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Central Italy |
| |
Authors: | Verin Ranieri Poli Alessandro Ariti Gaetano Nardoni Simona Fanucchi Martina Bertuccelli Mancianti Francesca |
| |
Affiliation: | (1) Department of Animal Pathology, Prophylaxis and Food Hygiene, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy |
| |
Abstract: | To assess the role of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) as a reservoir of leishmaniosis, 92 adult foxes of both genders (58 males and 34 females), shot during the regular hunting seasons in Central Italy, were examined. Blood samples were taken as well as samples from spleen, lymph nodes, and skin to investigate the presence of antibodies against Leishmania infantum and the presence of the parasite DNA in tissues, by means of a species-specific polymerase chain reaction, respectively. All tested sera were negative as well as skin samples. Forty eight animals (52.2%) had leishmania DNA in the lymph nodes and the splenic samples from eight of them (8.7%) scored positive also. The present report would indicate that foxes in an L. infantum medium-endemic area seem negligible reservoir for leishmania infection, even if more than 50% of them bear parasite DNA in their lymphatic tissue. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|