Search

ABSTRACT: Canine visceral leishmaniasisis an important disease caused by the protozoon Leishmania infantum which affects several organs and systems, including the genital tract. The L. infantum tropism to the male genital system and correlation among parasite load, immunohistochemistry detection and structural changes in these organs is controversy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate this correlation in the genital organs of the male dogs naturally infected with L. infantum. Samples from testicles, epididymis, prostate, glans penis, prepuce and scrotum were collected from 19 positive adult dogs. Structural changes were observed in the testicles (5.2%), epididymis (2.6%), prepuce (5.2%) and scrotum (5.2%) of the samples positive at immunohistochemistry examination. Conversely, similar structural changes were observed in all tissues negative at immunohistochemistry analysis. Moreover, L. infantum DNA was detected in all organs with the highest parasite load found in testicles, epididymis, and prostate gland. , Testicles had the highest parasite load but the lowest number of inflammatory lesions. These inflammatory lesions were observed in all organs of reproductive system of dogs; however, no correlation was observed between the parasite load and inflammatory lesions of dogs naturally infected with L. infantum.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a chronic disease caused by Leishmania infantum. The major sites of parasite localization in infected animals are the secondary lymphoid organs, bone marrow and cutaneous tissue. However, reports exist on the detection of the parasite in the organs of the male and female genital system. The main route of transmission is related to the hematophagous sandfly vectors of the genus Lutzomyia(New World) and Phlebotomus(Old World). However, other routes of transmission may be mentioned, such as sexual, vertical, hematogenic without vector and others involved in VL epidemiology. Thus, the current article reviews the main forms of transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in mammals

A leishmaniose visceral canina (LVC) é uma doença parasitária crônica causada por protozoários pertencentes ao gênero Leishmania. No Brasil, a transmissão se dá, principalmente, pela ação hematófaga de insetos vetores pertencentes à subfamília Phlebotominae, particularmente, a espécie Lutzomyia longipalpis. Todavia, a trasmissão vertical e venérea da LVC está presente. Os principais sinais clínicos observados nos animais acometidos pela LVC são linfoadenomegalia, dermatopatias, hepatoesplenomegalia, onicogrifose e oftalmopatias, contudo quadros atípicos podem ser observados, inclusive com o envolvimento do sistema genital. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste artigo é realizar revisão sobre as principais patologias genitais em cães machos e fêmeas com leishmaniose visceral (LV).The canine visceral leishmaniasis (CanL) is a chronic parasitic disease caused by protozoa belonging to the genus Leishmania. In Brazil, the transmission occurs mainly by the action of blood-sucking insects belonging to the subfamily Phlebotominae, particularly the Lutzomyia longipalpis species. However, the venereal and vertical transmission of the CanL is present. The main clinical signs observed in animals affected by the CanL are lymphadenopathy, skin diseases, hepatosplenomegaly, onychogryphosis and ophthalmopathy, however atypical manifestations can be observed, including the involvement of the genital system. Thus, the aim of this paper is to review on the major pathologies in genital male and female dogs with visceral leishmaniasis (VL).

The objective of the present study was to investigate the histopathological alterations and detection of parasites that occur in the eyes of dogs naturally infected with Leishmania chagasi. The eyes of 25 dogs with a positive parasitological and serological exam for L. chagasi were submitted to routine ophthalmic examination. Fragments were obtained from the eyeball and were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and histopathology. Among the structures studied, the conjunctiva of the third eyelid was the tissue most frequently stained for L. chagasi. Histopathological analysis revealed a predominantly mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate whose intensity ranged from discrete to intense in the various ocular structures. Vascular congestion and perivasculitis were also observed. The histopathological alterations that occur in the eyeball of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis might be related to the presence of antibodies.O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar as alterações histopatológicas e a detecção do parasito nos olhos de cães naturalmente infectados por Leishmania chagasi. Utilizaram-se os olhos de 25 cães com exame parasitológico e sorológico positivo para Leishmania chagasi. Os animais foram submetidos à semiotécnica oftálmica rotineira. Fragmentos do globo ocular foram coletados e destinados à imunoistoquímica e histopatologia. Entre as estruturas avaliadas, a conjuntiva da terceira pálpebra foi a que mais demonstrou imunomarcação da Leishmania chagasi. Na avaliação histopatológica, foi observado predominantemente infiltrado inflamatório mononuclear, variando de discreto a intenso nas diversas estruturas oculares. Congestão vascular e perivasculite também foram observadas. As alterações histopatológicas do bulbo do olho em cães com leishmaniose visceral podem estar relacionadas à presença do anticorpo.

ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlations among chronic inflammatory reaction, immunostaining and parasite load in the genital system of female dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum . Animals (n = 10) used in this study were from the Department of Vector Control and Animal Surveillance of the municipality of Caruaru, state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Fragments of the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterine body, uterine horns and ovaries were submitted to histopathological analysis, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and DNA detection of amastigotes by qPCR. Correlations were found between the IHC findings and chronic inflammatory infiltrate related to L. Infantum only in the vulva and vagina; whereas, the same inflammatory reactions without immunostaining were observed in all organs, except the ovaries. L. Infantum DNA was detected in all organs of genital system, with no difference in parasite load observed among the different organs. No correlation was reported between parasite load and inflammatory lesions in the organs evaluated, except for the uterine body, in which an inverse correlation was detected. In conclusion, the vulva and vagina were the major sites of lesions and immunostaining for L. Infantum amastigotes in the genital system of female dogs. Moreover, parasite load exerted no influence on the intensity of the lesions in the organs evaluated.

ABSTRACT: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by the protozoon Leishmania infantum . Transmission of this parasite to hosts occurs mainly through the bite of infected sand flies. However, alternative infection routes have been hypothesized, especially in areas where the biological vector is absent. The exact time of infection and whether in utero transmission occurs have still not been fully elucidated. This report demonstrates molecular evidence of vertical transmission of L. infantum from a pregnant dog to the embryo. Samples (e.g. vulva, vagina, cervix, uterine body, uterine horn and ovaries) from a female naturally infected by L. infantum and from her embryo were molecularly analyzed by means of qPCR and cPCR followed by DNA sequencing. The gestational age was estimated to be 23±1 day. Through qPCR, the presence of L. infantum DNA was detected in all the samples analyzed (n=7), including the embryo, conversely through cPCR, only four samples (vagina, cervix, uterine body and embryo) were positive. This study demonstrated that transmission of L. infantum from a pregnant dog to the embryo might occur in the early days of pregnancy. In conclusion, this is the first report showing L. infantum infecting a canine embryo.