Cotton Rats (Sigmodon hispidus) and Black Rats (Rattus rattus) as Possible Reservoirs of Leishmania spp. in Lara State, Venezuela

A total of 519 wild animals belonging to eleven species were collected during a two year study in a cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic area in Venezuela (La Matica, Lara State). The animals were captured in home-made Tomahawk-like traps baited with maize, bananas or other available local fruits, and pa...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
Main Authors: Hector De Lima, Zoraya De Guglielmo, Armando Rodríguez, Jacinto Convit, Noris Rodriguez
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) 2002
Subjects:
Leishmania
reservoirs
leishmaniasis
polymerase chain reaction
Venezuela
Microbiology
QR1-502
Infectious and parasitic diseases
RC109-216
Rattus rattus
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762002000200004
https://doaj.org/article/f9fcb6b4cc5f4d41919bf88520e81eda
Description
Summary:A total of 519 wild animals belonging to eleven species were collected during a two year study in a cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic area in Venezuela (La Matica, Lara State). The animals were captured in home-made Tomahawk-like traps baited with maize, bananas or other available local fruits, and parasites were isolated from 27 specimens. Two different species were found naturally infected with flagellates, i.e., cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) and black rats (Rattus rattus). Characterization of the parasites using PCR, kDNA restriction pattern and hybridization with species-specific probes revealed the presence of Leishmania (L.) mexicana in three of the black rats and Leishmania (V.) braziliensis in two others. The latter species was also identified in the single positive specimen of S. hispidus. The results suggested both species of animals as possible reservoirs of Leishmania sp.

Similar Items