Degree Final Project defended by Paloma Alonso Collado

September 19^th, 2024

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, which is primarily transmitted by dipteran vectors (phlebotomine sandflies). It is a disease that affects a large part of the countries worldwide, including Spain, where it is considered endemic.

The outbreaks that have occurred in the Community of Madrid since 2009 due to infected leporids have brought wild reservoirs into focus. The diagnosis of the disease canpor be made by direct observation of amastigotes in areas of active multiplication, immunological diagnosis or molecular diagnosis.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Leishmania infantum in wild mice populations in the Valdenazar Forest, Guadalajara, and in Sierra de Cazorla, Jaén, and to compare the results using different types of samples. The samples obtained from the mice were hair, blood and tail (skin and muscle), and the diagnostic technique used to analyze them was real-time PCR. Hair was chosen as the primary sample due to its non-invasive nature and ease of collection in wildlife field studies. Of the 81 samples analyzed, no positive cases were detected, leading to the conclusion that the studied populations are not infected with L. infantum and do not currently constitute a reservoir of the disease. However, studies with a larger number of samples, as well as studies of the present phlebotomine sandflies, would be necessary to confirm whether vectors circulate in these areas and if they are infected with L. infantum.

Additionally, no comparisons could be made regarding the sensitivity of the technique based on the type of sample used as all results were negative.

Keywords: Leishmania infantum, mouse, epidemiology, hair, Spain