A pathological study of Leishmania infantum natural infection in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis)
Investigation article published in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
November 1st, 2019
In this study, we describe the pathology of Leishmania infantum infection in naturally infected wild Leporidae and compare diagnosis of infection using histopathology, direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) assay, immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), and quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR). Tissues were analysed from 52 European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and 7 Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis) from the Community of Madrid (Spain). Our results show that L. infantum infection is associated with only minimal histopathological lesions and that L. infantum amastigotes can be detected by DFA assay in all tissues types tested, including skin. These results were confirmed by qPCR on fresh frozen tissues in 13% of rabbits and 100% of hares. However, L. infantum DNA could not be detected by qPCR on paraffin‐embedded tissue obtained by laser capture microdissection. Using the DFA assay to diagnose L. infantum infection may provide further insights into this disease in wild animals and may allow the precise tissue localization of L. infantum, thereby guiding follow‐up tests with more accurate qPCR
Ortega-García MV., Salguero FJ., Rodriguez-Bertos A., Moreno I., Garcia N., Garcia-Seco T., Torre G., Dominguez L. and Dominguez M.
 | Subdirección de Sistemas Terrestres. Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA). Ministerio de Defensa. |
 | School of Veterinary Medicine. Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. University of Surrey. |
 | Public Health England (PHE). |
 | Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
 | Servicio de Inmunología. Centro Nacional de Microbiología (CNM). Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII). |
| Servicio de Patología y Veterinaria Forense (SAP). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Servicio de Zoonosis Emergentes, de Baja Prevalencia y Agresivos Biológicos (NED). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
